Chapter 147

Chapter 147

15 years ago.

You forgot your name?

Jupiter gazed down at the girl before her with desolate eyes.

She was in the middle of learning about the orphans shed taken in. A girl who had burns on the left side of her body couldnt remember her own name.

Had the shock of that day been too much?

She couldnt recall her past, let alone her name. Jupiter was worried that the girl might have amnesia due to what she had experienced that day.

"You need a name, so I can call you."

Jupiter tried to smile and crouched down in front of the girl, meeting her eyes. The girl quietly looked back at Jupiter.

"What should I call you?"

"..."

The girl hesitated for a moment, then lifted her small finger and pointed at Jupiter.

Jupiter blinked her only eye and pointed at herself.

"Me? No, my name?"

The girl nodded.

"My name is Jupiter... do you want to have this name, too?"

Nod. Nod.

Seeing the girl nodding her head so eagerly, Jupiter was taken aback.

"Great, wonderful! My name being passed down, what could be better than that!"

Jupiter gently tousled the girls hair.

"From today on, you are Jupiter Junior. From now on, Ill call you Junior."

Nod. Nod.

Before the girl who seemed to agree, nodding her head, Jupiter suddenly felt puzzled.

"But... why do you want my name?"

Without answering, the girl smiled bashfully.

She didnt say it was because she wanted to be like Jupiter.

She wanted to become a great magician like her.

And above all, she wanted to become a responsible adult like her.

Someone who doesnt run away when they make a mistake, doesnt regret carrying sins, and lives resiliently. She wanted to resemble that image.

The girl didnt say anything.

She just inherited that persons name and quietly followed her.

***

The present.

Ku-Kwag-Kwag!

Hundreds of blood bullets and lightning collided, causing a thick explosion.

Jupiters full-power lightning evaporated most of the hundreds of blood bullets.

But she couldnt stop the last few, and they flew straight at her.

Jupiter did not dodge.

Because right behind her was the child who had inherited her name.

Puh-eck! Puh-eck...!

The blood bullets buried themselves into Jupiters body with a dull sound.

Even as she fell, hit and wounded, Jupiter smiled.

To Junior, who looked at her with surprised eyes, Jupiter cried out heartily.

"Blast it away, Junior-!"

"...!"

Juniors left hand glowed white as she clenched her teeth.

Then the magic was completed.

Flash!

Jupiter Juniors ultimate move [Elemental Disassembly] was activated.

Above Celendions head, a halo-like circle that resembled an angels ring rose, shone white, and a bright cluster of light shone all around.

Jing-!

The next moment, a crack appeared in the air as if a mirror had cracked,

Chang-grang-!

and it shattered into pieces.

At the same time, all the magic elements around Celendions body were disassembled all at once.

"Such... a thing..."

Feeling his own magic being completely extinguished, Celendion spat out in a hollow voice.

"I, to be... to be done in by my own spell...?"

Now, Celendion could not move at all.

Magic and skills could not be used while [Elemental Disassembly] was active, and his body was still impaled on the stake.

A vampire, who had both blood magic and physical enhancement sealed, could...

Only be repelled by humans.

Juk. Juk.

One by one, the surviving humans gathered around Celendion.

All were injured, but their eyes were fierce. Some even chuckled.

"Eu...keuk!"

Unwittingly, Celendion swallowed his dry saliva.

Mother and daughter gazed at each other, laughing and crying.

"Can you help me stand?"

Jupiter murmured in a fading voice.

"Id like to meet my end befitting a mage."

"...Yes, Mom."

Gently, Junior lifted Jupiter into her arms.

"Do whatever you want."

"Thank you, my dear."

Standing upright, blood streamed from her chest. Despite several bouts of coughing up blood, Jupiter defiantly held herself up.

She then shouted towards the party surrounding Celendion.

"Your Majesty!"

Turning around, Ash met Jupiters faint smile.

"May I take the first shot?"

Ash nodded heartily.

"Of course, Dame Jupiter."

The party members stepped back from Celendion. Jupiter slowly raised her right hand.

Rumble, rumble...!

A faint sound of thunder echoed from the sky.

With the last of her magic power gathered, Jupiter winked at Junior.

"Daughter? Could you light me a cigarette?"

"Even at the very end, youre incorrigible, Mom."

Junior grumbled, but she found a cigarette in Jupiters pocket, placed it in her mouth, and lit it.

Then Junior placed a hand on Jupiters shoulder, aiding in the casting of Jupiters final spell.

"Hoo..."

Taking a long drag, Jupiter savored the last puff of her life.

Immediately afterward, she opened her only eye wide.

The Veterans grim eyes shone brightly, unbelievably radiant for someone on the brink of death.

"Hey, Vampire King! Recognize the glory!"

Jupiter, shouting with laughter, thrust her right fist forward forcefully.

"Its Jupiters final lightning strike!"

Flash-!

Crackling thunder!

A small, sharp bolt of lightning struck down from the sky, landing squarely on Celendions head.

It wasnt her usual bright yellow or blue lightning. It was a pure, brilliant white.

The output was just a tenth of its usual power, but Celendion was in a state where her magical defenses had been slashed down to the negatives.

"Aaaaaaaagh?!"

True damage, with additional damage.

A magic attack hitting in a situation where magic defense had been reduced to the negatives brought about enormous pain.

A vile scream erupted from the mouth of the Vampire King.

Clink-!

Celendions life core shattered to pieces.

Jupiters lightning had undoubtedly killed Celendion once.

"Haha... That... was refreshing."

Jupiter, who had been laughing, suddenly collapsed.

Junior quickly embraced the fallen Jupiter and gently laid her on the ground.

Lying quietly, Jupiter looked up at Junior with her now fading eyes.

"Live long and happy, Junior."

"..."

"My only wish is... that."

Junior tightly held Jupiters hand.

"Ill live like you, mom. Thats my dream."

"Junior... Dont live... like me..."

A smile hung at the corner of Jupiters lips.

"Or maybe not... having a wonderful daughter like you, life might have been pretty good after all..."

The sky was blue.

Just like the sea they had seen together that day.

A wind blew from somewhere. It smelled faintly of the sea. Childrens laughter could be heard.

Jupiter slowly closed her eyes.

"Im... a little sleepy..."

"Sleep well, mom."

Junior, stroking her moms hair, whispered into her ear.

"You wont have a nightmare today... Youll dream a good dream."

Just as she said, Jupiter drew her last breath peacefully, as if falling asleep.

Twenty years as a soldier. Fifteen years as a mercenary.

It was a peaceful end for the stormy life of the Lightning Mage.