Chapter 267

Chapter 267

From a distance, dawn broke.

However, the city square in the center was even brighter than the approaching dawn.

Torches were densely lit.

And the citizens who had gathered, weapons in hand.

They had hastily set up barricades at the main intersections of the square, holding their weapons awkwardly, vigilantly watching their surroundings.

Seeing this, I was at a loss for words.

They were not soldiers.

Just ordinary people who lived here.

"If one doesnt defend themselves when necessary, if they dont step forward and fight for their own lives,"

A deep, elderly voice reached my ears as I gazed blankly at the scene.

"No one will protect you if you dont show the strength and will to do so."

Turning around, it was the familiar Elder Dwarf, Kellibey.

"When I said something to that effect, everyone followed suit."

"...Kellibey."

"I distributed the weapons left in the forge to the citizens. We lit fires as bright as possible, and everyone gathered, watching each others backs."

Holding a massive warhammer in his hand, Kellibey stroked his beard and grinned.

"We successfully repelled a few werewolves that came this way. The citizens are safe."

"..."

"Hey, why the long face? Its not all bad."

I looked away.

If only I had done a bit more.

Then the citizens wouldnt have had to fight at all.

"This is a frontline city against monsters. Soldiers die fighting monsters every day."

Perhaps sensing my thoughts, Kellibey slowly spoke.

"If one hopes for peace while living in such a city, then that citizen might as well have the heart of a thief."

"..."

"If one lives under the protection of someone elses life, they should be prepared to give up their own. That was the way of my homeland."

Perhaps that was the way of the Dwarf Kingdom.

But...

"Ive lived in this fortress city for decades, my Lord!"

An old woman gripping a pickaxe said with a chuckle.

"Even during the time of our ancestors, monsters broke in multiple times! Each time, the citizens united to beat them back!"

"..."

"Weve even defeated tougher monsters! Do you think wed be afraid of mere wolves?"

"...Thank you."

I smiled gently at the boisterous old woman.

"Thank you for surviving."

The citizens, holding their torches high, guarding each others backs.

Men and women, young and old, gripping weapons to defend their lives.

The sight was grand, grateful, and even noble.

Yet, as the commander of the front lines... it was a sight I never wanted to see.

"Im sorry."

My fists clenched tight, nails digging into the flesh of my palm.

"Ill do my best to ensure this never happens again."

Children with small slingshots ran across the square, laughing.

Did this situation feel like a game to them?

Leading the children was Hannibal, Kellibeys assistant. The young N-grade hero led the children through an alleyway and out of sight.

In the brightening square, the laughter of children echoed.

Watching them, I murmured,

"Ill do everything I can to ensure you never have to take up arms."

Yes.

To create such a world, I would...

***

As the morning sunlight began to illuminate the sky in a soft blue hue,

In front of the northern wall,

Lunared was dead.

The werewolf with silver-red fur lay motionless, a large fist mark evident in the center of his chest.

I quietly observed the monsters corpse.

The creature that once boasted of destroying the world met such a silent and void end.

Kureha too, had drawn his last breath.

Although the curse had dissipated, he still retained the form of a wolf monster. He lay there, smaller in stature, with his eyes serenely closed.

And in front of him stood the Penal Squad, five in total, including Kuilan.

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The curse that Kureha held had returned to each member of the Penal Squad.

All five had grown taller, their muscles more pronounced, and red fur sprouted across their bodies.

They didnt exactly resemble werewolves. They looked more human than beast.

Perhaps through generations of mingling with humans, the wolf blood within them had diluted.

Yet, there was an undeniable mix of beast in their appearance.

Beastmen.

It was precisely the Werebeast race I had encountered in the game.

"This is our tribes true form," Kuilan slowly began, his voice noticeably deeper.

"Wolf Beastmen. The inherent form of the Leaf Tribe."

...

"On a full moon, we transform into wolves, and when the moon wanes, we revert to humans; half-human, half-beast"

Gazing at his furry fist, Kuilan murmured sorrowfully,

"It seems we cant remain on this front line any longer, my lord."

"We are both human! Why are you trying to kill each other?! Why?!"

Yet now, they were back to trying to end each others lives as if nothing had transpired.

Junior couldnt understand it. She tried to stop them, but then,

Dont ask the obvious, kid.

Both had no intention of backing down.

Camus tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword. Through his disheveled hair, vengeful eyes shimmered eerily.

"Why are we trying to kill each other?"

Aiming magic from her fingertips at Camus, Reina coldly spat, "Because we are human."

Whish!

In a flash, Camus charged. Reina calmly unleashed a wind bullet from her fingertips.

Camus grabbed Junior, who was trying to block the bullet with her body, and pushed her aside. Simultaneously, he cleaved through the incoming bullet with his sword and advanced.

Swish! Swish!

Slicing through the wind bullets with the edge of his blade, Camus reached right in front of Reina.

However, his current sword wasnt the Spell Cleaver he usually used. It was a regular sword, incapable of absorbing magic.

Clang!

As he arrived in front of Reina, the long sword that blocked the last wind bullet shattered into pieces, sending metal shards in all directions.

With empty hands extended, Camus smirked weakly, "...Always one step short at the end."

Bang!

A wind bullet shot from Reinas fingertips pierced through Camuss chest.

Coughing up blood as he fell, Camus took three more magic bullets from Reina without any mercy.

Without even a scream, Camus was thrown backward.

"Camus!"

Junior rushed over in panic.

With holes in his chest and stomach, and his eyes blankly staring into space, Camus whispered to Junior, "Dont forget."

"...?"

"Dont forget me."

With his bloody hand, Camus weakly grasped Juniors and with his last breath said, "Dont forget the Camila Kingdom."

Eyes glazed over, Camus breathed his last.

Amid the pool of blood, Junior stood in shock.

"..."

Quietly watching the scene, Reina slowly turned away.

She took out a cigarette and placed it in her mouth. However, she couldnt find her lighter.

"Damn."

Blood seeped through the bandage wrapped around her abdomen. The injury inflicted by Camus in their previous encounter hadnt fully healed.

"Hurts like hell..."

With a dejected chuckle and chewing on the unlit cigarette, Reina staggered into the shadowy alley and vanished.

***

[STAGE 10 - CLEAR!]

[STAGE MVP - Lucas(SSR)]

[Leveled-up Characters]

>Main Party

- Ash(EX) Lv.48 (1)

- Lucas(SSR) Lv.51 (1)

- Evangeline(SSR) Lv.51 (1)

- Jupiter Junior(SSR) Lv.57 (1)

- Damien(EX) Lv.51 (1)

>Sub Party 1

- Kuilan(SR) Lv.50 (1) (Eligible for 3rd class change!)

- Tuesday(R) Lv.43 (1)

- Wednesday(R) Lv.43 (1)

- Becky(R) Lv.43 (2)

- OnTheRock(R) Lv.41 (2)

>Sub Party 2

- GodHand(SR) Lv.45 (1)

- Bodybag(R) Lv.40 (1)

- Burnout(SR) Lv.39 (1)

>Others

- Lilly(R) Lv.32 (2)

- Margarita(R) Lv.36 (1)

[Deceased & Injured Characters]

- Camus(SR) : Deceased

- Evangeline(SSR) : Seriously Injured

- Damien(EX) : Minor Injury

[Deceased & Injured Captured Monsters]

- Kureha(SSR) <Captured Monster>: Deceased

- Tri-Colored Slime(R) <Captured Monster>: Deceased

[Aquired Items]

- Werewolf Legion Magic Stone: 274

- White Werewolf Magic Core(SR): 4

- Werewolf Legion Commander Magic Core(SSR): 1

[Stage clear rewards have been given. Please check your inventory.]

- SR Grade Reward Box: 2

- SSR Grade Reward Box: 1

>> Get Ready For The Next STAGE

>> [STAGE 11: The Enemy of My Enemy]