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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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[Have you come again, weak human?]
The familiar voice pierced Hans’s ears. For the past three years, this damned dragon had been tormenting him.
‘Give me your body and soul. Then I will kill everything.’
It was a surprisingly tempting offer.
‘If I just give up here, wouldn’t it be easier?’
He had considered it countless times.
But the conclusion was always the same.
‘What’s the point if I don’t do it myself?’
It had taken him a long time to reach that conclusion. Perhaps he had been avoiding it.
[This time, I will take your body and soul!]
“I can’t do that. I have things to do.”
[You always lose! Yet you talk big!!]
“You’re right. I’ve always lost.”
According to Lucy, the Vampire Lord, the Dragon Heart was a matter of submission.
Either you submitted to it, or it submitted to you. If you submitted to the Dragon Heart, your body and soul would be taken by the dragon, and after eons, the dragon would be resurrected.
Of course, no one who obtained the Dragon Heart was weak enough to submit to it.
Except for Hans.
Aside from his Time Stop ability, Hans was just a weak young man who desperately wanted to return to his original world.
“So, I’ve finally made up my mind.”
The dragon, now taking a more defined form in the darkness, lunged at Hans. Hans had always cowered in fear, but not anymore.
He had finally decided what he wanted to do. So, there was no more hesitation. Hans threw a punch at the dragon with all his might.
A mere human’s fist wouldn’t affect a dragon. If this were reality. But this was Hans’s mindscape.
Here, the power of the mind was paramount.
And for Hans, who had discarded his hesitation, the dragon’s remnants were no match. The moment his fist connected, the dragon’s form shattered and dispersed.
Having subdued the Dragon Heart, Hans returned to reality.
Lucy, the blonde Vampire Lord, greeted him with applause.
“Congratulations. You’ve completely subdued the Dragon Heart.”
“It took long enough.”
“I understand. After what happened…”
“…”
Being betrayed by trusted comrades wasn’t something even the strongest warrior could easily endure.
Moreover, for his beloved disciple to hypnotize him…how great must the shock have been?
At least, that’s what Lucy thought.
Hans, however, thought differently. It had taken him this long to subdue the Dragon Heart simply because he was weak-willed.
‘It’s a good thing they’re misunderstanding.’
He had to prevent his true abilities from being exposed, even if they were on friendly terms. Hans sighed inwardly in relief. He had things to do.
“How is the situation outside?”
“You’re asking that first?”
“Well, yes.”
‘Such is the Commander of the Royal Knights.’
Lucy nodded, approving of Hans’s attitude.
He was truly a man she admired, worthy of the title of hero.
*I wonder how they’re doing.*
However, Hans was thinking about something else.
Now that he had made up his mind, the most important thing to him was the members of the Royal Knights. How were they doing?
He had so many questions.
Were they hurt? His worries piled up. Perhaps sensing his anxiety, Lucy smiled and said,
“Now that you mention it, I’m sure you’re curious about them.”
“Do you know anything?”
“I’m aware of everything that happens on the surface.”
“That’s good.”
Resentment, questioning, anger, all of that was only possible if they were alive. Although Hans had a lot to say to them, he didn’t wish for their deaths.
He was more worried and curious.
How were they doing? What about the Royal Knights without him? He would feel a bit strange if they were doing well without him.
“The Royal Knights have disbanded.”
“…What?”
Unable to believe what he had just heard,
Hans had to ask again.
‘What? Disbanded?’
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The news of Commander Hans’s death had spread.
Officially, he was listed as missing, but those in the know were aware that he wasn’t coming back.
In this situation, Makenis, the Great Elder of the Elves, questioned the continued existence of the Royal Knights.
Specifically, he doubted they could function properly without Hans.
The other races agreed. The central figure that held the Alliance together was gone. The members of the Royal Knights naturally protested, but they couldn’t hold on.
The Royal Knights existed thanks to the support of the other races.
In the end, the Royal Knights disbanded, and the members returned to their respective homes.
“That’s what happened in the past three years.”
“…”
“So? Are you disappointed?”
“No, it’s understandable.”
The True Demons had resumed their activities.
The Dwarf Kingdom had lost nearly 50,000 Iron Golems in the past three years, and the Human Kingdom had also suffered significant losses.
The expeditions, which had been gaining momentum, had stalled, and the nations of the Alliance had retreated into self-preservation.
So, what could they do?
“They made a necessary choice to protect their nations and people.”
“Hmm? So, what are you going to do now?”
“I’ll visit them one by one.”
“You’re going to visit them? Them?”
“Yes.”
There was no other way.
What choice did he have? Hans didn’t think the situation was that bad. At least no one had died.
“What are the True Demons doing now?”
“There are only seven True Demons left. However…”
“However?”
“The Holy Empire’s barrier has been broken.”
“Wait, the Holy Empire’s barrier is broken?”
This was an unexpected and disastrous turn of events. The reason the True Demons had been relying on monsters was because of the Holy Empire’s barrier.
But if the barrier was broken?
Then the True Demons would resume their activities, and the Alliance would be quickly defeated.
Hans finally understood why the Royal Knights had disbanded. It was because of this.
“They disbanded the Royal Knights to reinforce their forces against the True Demons!”
“That’s right. There are very few left who can stop the True Demons besides them.”
“Why didn’t you tell me this sooner?”
“Just because.”
“Tsk.”
Hans clicked his tongue.
She always spoke as if she was testing him. And there were times when he almost fell for it.
Hans shook his head and looked away.
He didn’t have time to deal with an old witch like her. He had to regroup the Royal Knights and talk to them.
Then he could decide what to do next.
“So, are we leaving now?”
“Of course. I’ve been in your care for three years.”
“Don’t mention it.”
“Y-you’re leaving?!”
“What is it with you?”
The blonde girl, Lua, had suddenly appeared beside him, clinging to his side like a parasite.
Hans, bewildered by the sudden appearance of her daughter, peeled her off.
“Didn’t you tell me to get lost?”
“I-I never said that recently!!!”
“Even if you didn’t, I have things to do.”
“Something you absolutely have to do?! Let’s just stay here together!”
“It seems our child has grown quite attached to you.”
Lucy chuckled and touched her cheek. She seemed to be thinking about what to do.
Hans, however, felt uneasy about Lua.
‘They don’t look alike, but her behavior reminds me of someone.’
One of the heroines from the original game.
A girl who introduced herself as the last Vampire. She wasn’t as troublesome as Helia, but she still required a complex strategy to win over.
‘I wonder how the heroines from the original game are doing.’
The thought crossed Hans’s mind, but he quickly shook his head. He didn’t have time to worry about them.
The current situation was better than the original storyline, if anything.
Lucy, having finished her deliberation, spoke,
“Then this is what we’ll do!”
“What?”
“Hans, I want you to take care of Lua.”
“…”
He had gained a burden from the very beginning.
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Surprisingly, the time with Lucy has been pretty tame but at the cost of that, he has to deal with a mini Lucy who may or may not become a Helia 2.0
Now he got himself a better disciple. Maybe this one will listen
What does she mean “Our child”? Who’s our? Hour on the clock?