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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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The Holy Sword wasn’t a convenient tool. Its only purpose was to defeat the Demon Lord, regardless of the Hero’s circumstances.
“You said… you would raise me… if I fell…”
-I will. So fight. I, the Holy Sword Timeless, will decide.
“That’s not fair… how can you…”
Drip, drip-
Tears fell from Luna’s eyes, landing on Lee Jun-woo’s cheek. His body remained motionless.
“W-Wake up, stupid Mister… you… you promised to train with me… you said you would make me stronger…”
Luna murmured, her voice weak, but there was no response.
Sloth, the Demon Lord, winced in pain.
“You had… a hidden move…? That hurts… I want to go home and rest…”
Sloth smiled, imagining himself back home, relaxing.
Luna’s grief turned to rage.
“You… you did this to Mister, and you’re saying that?”
“Hmm… the Hero and her guardian… were quite close…?”
Luna gritted her teeth.
She hated that the Demon Lord dared to comment on their relationship. And there was no point in arguing with him, not with Mister lying there lifelessly.
“…Holy Sword.”
-Yes, Hero.
“I can’t go back to when Mister was alive…?”
-Never. This is the perfect opportunity to defeat the Demon Lord. If we wait and he regenerates…
…I will rewind time again.
To the moment closest to his injury.
To the moment with the highest chance of success.
“So I can’t go back to when Mister was alive…”
-Correct.
“…”
Luna, who had always followed Mister forward, now looked back with regret. She carried Lee Jun-woo’s body to where the brothers lay.
Sloth, needing time to regenerate, watched.
“They’re as good as dead. Might as well bury them…”
“Shut up.”
Sloth’s attention snapped back to the cold voice.
‘I haven’t felt this in a while…’
It felt like facing a newborn Demon Lord.
A sharp, killing intent formed from a collection of ugly emotions.
Sloth turned to face the source.
“You’re Saten of the Secilia family…? You’re closer to a Demon Lord than a Hero…?”
“I told you to shut up.”
Saten’s usual blank expression was distorted, her emotions raw and focused on a single point. She clenched her fists, her heart pounding.
“Is there a way to bring Mister back?”
“No… a damaged soul cannot be restored… it’s like a broken cup leaking water… just like you…”
Saten’s body trembled, her usual coldness replaced by a burning heat.
Her chest tightened, making it hard to breathe, but a clear goal formed in her mind. Her body instinctively sought a solution.
Remembering Lee Jun-woo’s lifeless form, Saten whispered, her voice filled with quiet rage,
“I think… I need to take revenge.”
Slash!
Saten cut herself deeper than usual, letting the blood flow freely.
The more blood, the stronger the magic.
Consumed by a rage she had never felt before, she didn’t think about the consequences.
“Sigh… this is the emotion I hate and find most troublesome… but I need the money… so I’ll let you live…”
“I told you to shut up.”
A sharp gaze.
A resolute heart.
Saten gathered the blood in her hands, forming a crimson sphere.
‘I didn’t want to awaken my emotions like this.’
With a mixture of regret and rage, Saten launched the sphere at Sloth.
Boom!!
‘A direct hit.’
Blood splattered across the fountain.
Dust and debris obscured Sloth’s form. But Saten knew, without a doubt…
“As expected, I’m not strong enough alone.”
‘I can’t defeat him by myself.’
Standing before her, unharmed, was Sloth.
“I won’t kill you… so stay still…”
As Sloth reached for her, Saten made up her mind.
‘I’m sorry I couldn’t avenge you, Mister.’
‘I’m out of options.’
Saten, without a second thought for the others, didn’t look back.
‘I won’t let you get away with killing Mister.’
‘If Mister, who taught me magic and emotions, is gone… I have no reason to live.’
Saten used all the blood in her body as a catalyst for her magic.
Sloth, watching the blood swirling around Saten, muttered,
“No money for me then…”
This was her final act of revenge.
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Luna placed Lee Jun-woo’s body in a safe place. Unlike the brothers, he looked peaceful, his eyes closed gently.
He was still breathing, not quite dead, but his soul was shattered, his life as good as over.
Estia, who had been sitting in a corner, slowly approached Lee Jun-woo.
“What… what happened to Brother…? Did the Demon Lord do this…?”
“…”
“L-Luna…? Tell me… why is Brother like this-“
“It’s my fault. It’s because I’m not strong enough.”
‘Mister is like this… Because I’m weak, even after all that training.’
Luna blamed herself.
She believed it was all her fault. But Hare disagreed.
“…It’s all your fault, Estia.”
Slap!
Hare stared at Estia with vacant eyes, tears streaming down her face.
“If only… if only you could fight properly… this wouldn’t have happened to Mister… it’s all… all your fault…”
If only we could have fought with Mister.
If only we could have defeated the Demon Lord together.
Mister wouldn’t be lying here like this.
“I wish… someone else was the Saintess…”
“…”
Estia touched her red cheek and remained silent. She knew she was the Saintess, but she didn’t act like one.
She didn’t even know what a Saintess was supposed to be. She lacked faith, and that’s why she couldn’t use divine power.
Hare, her eyes filled with despair, turned away from Estia.
“Now I’m alone…”
“Wait, Hare! Put that down-“
“If Mister, who saved me, is gone… there’s no point…”
Hare held the dagger Mister had given her. But it wasn’t enough. She picked up the sword Luna had dropped.
“I’ll join you, Mister…”
And without hesitation, she acted.
Stab
Hare’s frail body fell on top of Lee Jun-woo’s.
“…”
“…”
Luna and Estia were speechless, witnessing their friend’s death. But they noticed one thing.
“I’ll always be with you, Mister…”
Hare, dying on top of Lee Jun-woo, was smiling.
‘This is a dream… it has to be a dream… this… this can’t be happening… how can this happen overnight… this is crazy…’
Luna felt nauseous.
The Holy Sword’s voice, distorted with static, echoed in her mind.
-You have finally fallen, Hero.
“Holy Sword, tell me. T-This is a dream, right? I’m having a nightmare, right? H-How can this be happening…?”
-This is reality. So do not despair. We will raise you.
“No way…”
Mister is dead.
Hare is dead.
Saten is dead.
And they killed themselves.
“Ha… haha…! What’s the point of getting back up in this situation?!”
Luna laughed bitterly.
She was usually optimistic, but even she couldn’t find a silver lining in this situation.
Even if the Holy Sword prevented her mind from breaking…
“What can I do without Mister?! What am I supposed to do?! It’s impossible! I can’t do anything!”
Luna was young and weak.
The weight of reality was too much for her to bear.
The Holy Sword replied coldly,
-Stop whining, Hero.
“Sob, I’m not whining, it’s the truth…!”
-Those are just excuses. The Hero’s only purpose is to defeat the Demon Lord. Nothing more, nothing less. So rise and walk. The path is open.
“Sniffle… w-wait, what do you mean, the path is open-“
Before Luna could ask, a golden magic power enveloped her body. It was the prelude to time rewinding.
Luna thought about the Holy Sword’s words.
‘What does it mean, the path is open…?’
If… if I can understand that…
Can I save Mister?
A spark of hope flickered in Luna’s heart.
She looked around, searching for an answer.
‘I’m sorry, everyone. It’s all my fault… because I’m weak…’
The streets were filled with guilt and sorrow. Luna bit her lip, desperately searching for a clue.
Suddenly…
‘Oh, right…’
Mister had told her.
To hold Estia’s hand at the end.
Is that the path the Holy Sword was talking about?
Luna turned to look at Estia.
“I-It’s all my fault… I-I’m sorry, Goddess… please save Brother… I-I’m a bad Saintess… p-please give me divine power… I-I’m sorry…”
Estia was kneeling on the ground, her head bowed, praying desperately for divine power.
She was more sincere than usual, her heart filled with genuine desperation.
Luna noticed a faint golden glow around Estia.
‘I’m running out of time… what should I do…?’
The magic power surrounding her intensified.
Time was running out.
Luna made up her mind.
“E-Estia…! H-Hold my hand…!”
I-I don’t know, but…
I’ll do what Mister said…!
Luna grabbed Estia’s hand. The magic power surrounding Luna flowed into Estia’s body.
“Please… i-it’s my fault… it’s my fault for being lazy… please don’t die… please… please don’t let my friends die…”
Estia, oblivious to what was happening to her body, continued to pray.
Luna, holding Estia’s hand tightly, thought…
Maybe this time… I’m not alone.
‘Did… did Mister know this would happen…?’
Why didn’t he tell me to hold Hare’s or Saten’s hand?
She didn’t know, but…
‘There’s… a glimmer of hope in Estia.’
That golden magic power flowing through Estia’s body…
May it be a light of hope.
Luna and Estia, with the power of the Holy Sword Timeless…
…returned to the past.
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