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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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Ruby had desired revenge.
She had sworn to make that trash pay for her mother’s blood, to crush his flesh and bones.
The hatred that took root at such a young age became kindling, burning her own body hot.
Naturally, her own wellbeing didn’t factor into it at all.
Ruby had gritted her teeth and strived to become stronger, that was likely why she had chosen the hammer as her weapon.
As cruelly as possible, just like how that trash loved to pound iron, she would pound him to death in the same way.
It was probably an unconscious choice guided by her dwarven instincts.
For someone like her, the Royal Knights had been an unparalleled opportunity.
The Royal Knights were the first multi-racial united knighthood, and each member could be called the strongest of knights.
No matter how much of a piece of trash Balak was, he was still the head of one of the four gems supporting the Dwarf Republic.
Naturally, Ruby hadn’t thought she could win against him without anything.
So, Ruby had joined the Royal Knights.
To become even stronger than she was now and to take revenge on that trash.
At first, it had been annoying.
From the clingy junior members to the senior members who treated her like a child and just made her train.
She hadn’t had time for this, but as time passed, little by little, very gradually, her hatred had faded.
It wasn’t that she had forgiven that trash.
How could she forgive the scum who had constantly abused her and her mother since childhood, and who had eventually killed her mother?
“I think you must have had some purpose.”
“…”
“I-I won’t ask about that. B-But still, don’t just cut off our connection as comrades on your own. A-After all, we’re comrades who fight together risking our lives…”
“…Isn’t it a bit funny to say that after knocking me down?”
Ruby’s senior and mentor had been Bayard.
At first, she had thought Bayard was just a timid fool, but when the lid was lifted, wasn’t she actually a knight with unbelievable strength?
But it wasn’t simply because of her strength that Ruby had come to follow Bayard.
Bayard had always stayed by Ruby’s side as she kept her distance, trying her best to take care of Ruby somehow.
Thanks to Bayard’s efforts, Ruby had slowly begun to open her heart to the Royal Knights.
Her goal of killing Balak had never changed, but she had slightly altered her thinking.
From the dangerous idea that she would gladly give her own life if she could just kill Balak, to the thought that after everything was over… wouldn’t it be nice to have a place to return to?
“The Royal Knights really are fun after all. Everyone is so strong!”
“Stop this nonsense and kill them. This is an all-out battle with our fate at stake.”
“For something like that, don’t you think this is a very dirty and cowardly method?”
“For the sake of victory, I can gladly do anything.”
But even that place to return to had disappeared.
The warm comfort she had felt for the first time after losing her mother had turned to ashes.
If it weren’t for everyone’s sacrifice, they all would have died too.
Precious things should be kept within sight.
Why was it?
Why did her mother’s teaching come to mind now?
They had survived, unable to die.
The terror and memories they had experienced in that hell kept rushing in relentlessly.
To alleviate even a little of that anxiety, Ruby and Clara had clashed every day.
If they didn’t do that, the nightmares of that time kept coming back and then, they had met that man.
The commander of the Royal Knights recommended by the human kingdom.
To maintain the annihilated Royal Knights in name only.
Just a human used as a shield.
That was what she had thought before meeting him.
“But it wasn’t like that.”
Ruby forced herself to stand up.
Blood continued to flow from the numerous wounds on her body without stopping.
Though she had landed no small number of attacks on her opponent, when she came to her senses, for some reason, Ruby had more wounds left on her.
It could fly in the sky, yet it wasn’t flying.
Its long, torn mouth seemed to be mocking her.
The enemy was right before her eyes.
The hated enemy she wanted to tear apart even if it wasn’t enough, but she couldn’t win with her own power.
Was it right to retreat here? Or was it right to fight and die?
‘…Ha.’
Ruby laughed.
Just as her body and mind were about to break, the image of that man floated into her mind.
The image of some fool who threw himself into danger for the sake of strangers he didn’t even know.
He always paid a lot of attention to others.
He would call them for “counseling” and ask all sorts of questions.
Sometimes he would scold them sternly, she really couldn’t understand him.
But it didn’t feel unpleasant.
Rather, his clumsy behavior even felt cute, but Ruby already knew.
That this was precisely who the Commander was.
The Commander wasn’t just a fool who ran his mouth.
For some reason, he chose to do things that made people dislike him, but when they were in danger, he readily threw his life on the line.
Why?
She had thought about the reason.
“Why does the Commander deliberately choose to do things that make people dislike him?”
“It’s so obvious that we can all see through his clumsy act.”
“W-Well…”
“Maybe the Commander has some circumstance that makes him act that way?”
“Circumstance?”
Cluna had said that the Commander must surely have some situation.
For example, perhaps the Commander had also lost comrades, so he was trying not to get attached to them, his new comrades.
“Then why does he risk his life to help us?”
“That’s just who the Commander is.”
“…Someone who’s afraid of losing his comrades again, but can’t leave people in danger when they’re right in front of him. That’s the kind of person I think he is.”
Indeed, the Commander had never simply passed by when he saw people in danger until now.
Bayard who had deserted and gone berserk, the brainwashed Yuren, the Dwarf Republic, the 12 Tribes, and even the Elven Forest.
Honestly, it had been so dangerous that it wouldn’t have been strange if he had lost his life several times over, but the Commander had made choices to save everyone as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
So his words carried weight.
Before she knew it, she had found herself following behind the Commander and it was the same now.
The Commander’s words when he had slapped her cheek earlier still echoed in her ears.
“Say it again.”
“Whose life did you say has no meaning?”
“…I’m sorry, Commander.”
She had lived until now for the sake of revenge, but she had gone through so many things and when she had completely broken down and lost hope, the Commander had reached out his hand to her.
He had shown her another path.
Now she had another goal.
It was to follow the Commander’s path to the end.
Therefore, she couldn’t get caught up in a place like this.
She would definitely win.
Was it responding to that will?
Suddenly, hot flames began to rise from the hammer Ruby was holding.
Those flames engulfed everything around them.
Including Balak, who had become a monster.
“The red-hot iron is cooled.”
“Striking the anvil, a sword is forged.”
“The flame is my soul.”
The hot flames left traces on the ground.
Leaving blackened marks, Ruby charged towards Balak as if sliding.
Balak reacted skillfully, but the result was quite different.
Both of Balak’s wings were completely burned by the hot flames enveloping Ruby.
Only then did Balak realize something had gone wrong, but it was already too late.
His wings were completely scorched.
What had he become this monster for?
It had all been for the sake of the family.
To create the supreme art, the finest sword!
It had all been for that.
How dare you!
However, that thought couldn’t continue to the end.
Ruby’s hammer, wreathed in flames, fell on Balak’s head in an instant.
His faint presence was useless before the hot flames.
Crack!!!
Ruby’s giant hammer, wrapped in flames, completely shattered Balak’s head.
If it had been the Ruby of the past, she would have inflicted as much pain as possible before killing him, but for some reason, she didn’t do that now.
“Are you satisfied?”
Ruby raised her head.
Her younger self stood before her.
Was it an illusion? Or was it something else?
In any case, since a question had been asked, she should answer.
Ruby smiled.
“I am satisfied.”
The young Ruby who had thought she could sacrifice even her own life if she could get revenge was no longer there.
Instead, there was only Ruby who wanted to follow behind someone.
“My, it’s been such a long time since I’ve seen that power.”
“According to legend, the dwarf who adventured with the first hero used the power of flames.”
“Yes, that’s right. They could use flames freely at will. But since then, there hasn’t been even one person…”
“It probably responded to her soul that became so passionately ignited.”
Cluna and Yuren spoke while watching Ruby return triumphantly from afar.
Having lived for a long time, they naturally knew everything, but they deliberately didn’t explain in detail.
Because they thought the Commander would know to some extent as well.
So then, what exactly was that Commander thinking?
‘What is that? I don’t know, it’s scary.’
Correct answer.
He had become intimidated by a power that hadn’t appeared in the game or its lore.
Ding dong dang~♪
[T/N: The last line “Ding dong dang~♪” is a refrence to an old korean show and its the sound thats played when someone gets a correct answer]
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[Lmao they always overestimate our poor uncle and get him in trouble man cant catch a break]
Oh, she has been reborn into a yandere like a small Phoenix
MC be like:
Despite all the misunderstandings and delusions, that comment about how he didn’t want to get involved with them but still couldn’t help himself when they were in trouble is surprisingly accurate
Do too little, and people will be suspicious.
Do too much people will take it as granted.
It’s a hard life lol.