Chapter 659

Chapter 659

"Why, have you never felt like that? Dreading the arrival of morning."

The forge. Kellibey's workshop.

Hannibal had been infusing a spirit into the equipment when he suddenly blurted out such words.

Beside him, Kellibey, who had been enchanting the equipment with magic, looked over at his little assistant, wondering what he was talking about.

"Because I don't want to leave the warmth of my bed. Because I don't want to go to work. Because I just want to lie around all day and sleep. Wishing that morning would never come, that I could stay in bed for about a week."

"You've thought about that, you rascal..."

"Hehe. Honestly, hasn't everyone thought this at least once or twice? No? Is it just me?"

Wishing that morning would never come.

Wishing that the world would just end.

While living through the cruel reality, many people have imagined such scenarios at least once.

But no matter how much one prays under the covers, the sun inevitably rises, and the world brightens...

Hannibal looked up and gazed at the dark sky outside the forge.

Even though it was around noon, the sky was exceedingly dark, with only a blurry silhouette of the sun trembling beyond a curtain of undulating darkness.

"But to think that the morning really doesn't come, and the world is actually ending... It's unbelievable, really."

"..."

Watching his assistant's stunned expression, Kellibey made a gesture with his chin.

"How old are you again? You've lied so much about your age, even I'm confused."

"Me? I'm exactly fourteen now."

"To see the end of the world at fourteen..."

A clicking sound came from the mouth of the old dwarf.

"Instead of working like this, shouldn't you be out playing somewhere?"

"It's completely dark outside, where would I go to play? Besides, who knows? Maybe one of the spirits I've enchanted will play a crucial role in saving the world?"

"Oh, such grand nonsense."

Kellibey grumbled and then noticed a customer approaching the entrance of the workshop, snorting disdainfully.

"Hey, your dad's here again. Go eat lunch and come back."

Hannibal, startled, looked toward the entrance of the forge where Zenis awkwardly stood, smiling sheepishly while waving. In his other hand, he held a basket with lunch.Visitt novelbin(.)co/m for the latest updates

"My son always causes trouble..."

Then, the woman priest who had come with ZenisRosettascolded him.

"Why are you so nervous? Want to earn more heretic points again? Stand tall and speak your mind!"

"Well, then... Ahem! Listen! This forge doesn't function properly without our son! We're going to feed him now, so you all better understand that! Any complaints?!"

In front of his overbearing father's roar, Hannibal covered his face with both hands.

"Augh, Father really is too much..."

Kellibey couldn't help but laugh heartily.

"That's still good, right?"

"..."

Awkwardly twisting his body, Hannibal nonetheless grinned and removed his work gloves.

"Then I'll go have lunch, please eat as well, Master!"

"Alright, have a good meal."

Hastily wiping the sweat on his face with a towel, Hannibal hurriedly ran to the two priests.

The three of them chatted amiably as they left the forge, Kellibey silently watching them go.

"..."

The image of his deceased son seemed to overlap with the shadows of the cheerful trio.

Shaking his head to clear his mind, Kellibey shouted into the forge.

"Let's all eat lunch too! Take a break!"

"Yes-!"

The blacksmiths, eagerly awaiting lunchtime, responded in unison.

Even as the end of the world approached, and they busied themselves preparing equipment for the final battle, it was essential to eat and rest properly to maintain efficiency.

Lunchboxes were distributed by the Silver Winter Merchant Guild. Kellibey picked up his sandwich but couldn't bring himself to eat. He had no appetite.

Kellison...

Still, the apparition of his dead son lingered before his eyes, refusing to fade away.

Wait for me. Ill join this final battle too.

If the opponent was the King of all monsters.

No matter what, he was determined to strike a blow with his own hands, with his hammer and spirit.

Even if it didnt serve as a requiem for his dead son, even if it only cleared the cobwebs in his mind, it didnt matter.

The hatred and frustration that wouldnt disappear just by hammering equipment were gradually growing within him.

Before it swelled enough to burst him, Kellibey decided to charge toward the enemy leader.

Whether I die or live, this battle will decide it all.

If death brings peace, then that would be a decent ending in its own right.

Even though he had no appetite, Kellibey tried to muster the energy to eat the sandwich when...

"Kellibey! There's trouble!"

A dwarf came running in from outside, exclaiming loudly.

"The airship... The wreckage of Geronimo has been found!"

"...!"

"It was found far south from the epicenter of the Southern Plains! It seems it was blown away by the explosion. They are now recovering it and bringing it to Crossroad..."

Geronimo.

A long time ago, Kellibey had personally built this airship, which served as the flagship of the World Guardian Front, carrying the corpse of the Goblin God-King intended for a kamikaze attack... the airship Kellison had piloted until the very end.

And here at this stump as well.

Even from the tree where the Elven Queen herself had fallen and died, robust life was pushing forth sprouts.

Even in a world where the sun does not rise. Even as winter approaches.

"Why?"

As the cold wind blew, she instinctively reached out to cover the sprout, and Verdandi murmured softly.

"Why...?"

Why does it strive to live like this? Why does it try to survive like this?

It is unknowable.

Because life is impermanent. Because nature is indifferent.

As if embracing the stump with her body, Verdandi murmured with a choked voice.

"You were really terrible, Skuld..."

The sprouts that emerged at the spot where her sister died and those that sprouted in the abandoned patch in the dungeon.

Verdandi would nurture them. She would ensure they grew fully. Because they were the last legacy left by Skuld.

And, to do that...

Verdandi herself must also live.

"Really... you were terrible..."

Emotion, long absent, vividly returned to Verdandi's face.

Mostly it was sorrow.

But there was a slight relief as well.

***

Swoosh!

A massive silver fist cut through the air.

In the training grounds of the barracks, Kuilan was practicing alone.

Under the dark sky, his silver fist streaked through the air, spreading a faint glow like a light aura.

To others, it might seem like a solo practice, but in reality, Kuilan was not in a situation to be at ease.

"Is that all you got, 44th?"

"..."

Illusions of werewolves made of darkness attacked Kuilan from all directions.

Kuilan scattered punches and kicks into the air, fending off the illusions.

"With that level of murderous intent! With that level of fighting spirit! What do you think you can kill? Is that all your hatred amounts to?!"

The illusions shouted as they surged from all around. Kuilan clenched his teeth.

If talking big won, our ancestor might as well have been the Demon King...

The Nightmare Slayer made from the magical core of Lunared the Wolf King, [Full Moon's Massacrer].

Whenever there was a crisis, this damned cloak whispered in his mind. To surrender his body to it. Then, it would take care of the situation for him.

He had ignored it all along, but the situation had been too critical during the last encounter with the Goblin God-King, and he had reluctantly reached out his hand.

In exchange for borrowing its power, the cloak had clung to Kuilan's body... and ever since then, these illusions had been harassing him like this.

Their purpose was singular.

"Your flesh is perfect now. So hand it over to me! I can make much better use of it than you!"

"..."

"Then I'll blow away the Black Dragon and whatever else! It wouldnt be a bad deal for you, right?"

Maybe, just maybe, it was true. If he surrendered his body to this nightmare, he might be able to land a clean hit on the Black Dragon.

The problem is that this nightmare doesn't only intend to attack the Black Dragon. It would undoubtedly strike at the same allies as well.

Not only that, it might even try to destroy humanity, just as Lunared the Wolf King had originally intended.

Ultimately, whether this creature or the Black Dragon, both were enemies of the world.

'So far, I have managed to hold on...'

Gradually, the frequency and intensity of the illusions' attacks were increasing. Fending off each illusion, Kuilan felt increasingly drained.

'How much longer can I last?'

A few more days? Or perhaps months?

Whenever it happened, Kuilan was determined to confront this battle before his body was taken over by the leather cloak... and the nightmare sleeping within it.

To subdue the nightmare and make it entirely his own, or else.

'To end my life before it completely takes over.'

Whoosh-!

After sending the last attacking illusion flying with a back kick.

Kuilan steadied his ragged breathing and adjusted his stance. Wisps of pale steam rose from his muscular back.

'...My fists are gradually taking the same form as the illusions.'

Fighting the illusions, Kuilan's fists were reverting to their original form of primitive and violent boxing.

Though he hated to admit it, his immediate power was increasing. And what was needed in the fight against the Black Dragon was precisely this immediate power.

"..."

As Kuilan sighed deeply and steadied his breath.

"Captain!"

A subordinate from the Penal Squad rushed in breathlessly.

Turning in surprise, Kuilan listened as the subordinate exclaimed urgently.

"Sir, Princess Yun... Princess Yun has regained consciousness!"

--TL Notes--

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