Chapter 293:

Chapter 293:

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‘...What was that?’

Returning to the barracks, Arpheus immediately inspected the core of the seal.

‘I could’ve sworn its color had changed.’

Though he hadn’t been briefed on the exact nature of the seal like Leciel or the Lotus Knights, he had been given all the necessary explanations for guarding it.

Arpheus was well aware that this seal was imperfect and required periodic maintenance.

‘They said the closer it gets to red, the more dangerous it is.’

Thus, there was a directive from the higher-ups to thoroughly check for any color changes.

Arpheus carefully examined every corner of the seal, even infusing his eyes with mana.

However...

‘Did I see it wrong?’

The seal appeared the same as usual.

It emitted a bright blue light, almost painful to look at, and occasionally flickered with a mysterious hum.

Keter, Chokhmah, Binah, Chesed, Geburah, Tiphereth, Netzach... Return.

Wasn’t that an ancient, sacred chant?

Arpheus listened blankly to those voices and then turned back towards the entrance.

The tension quickly drained from his body.

‘Come to think of it, they said maintenance was done just before we arrived.’

The maintenance cycle was short, anywhere from a month to three months.

There was still plenty of time left.

He must have seen it wrong due to fatigue.

‘I should still tell everyone to keep an eye on it.’

He decided to report it to Ignotus, who was in charge of managing the seal.

As he thought this, Arpheus’s expression grew strange.

‘Now that I think about it, where is Ignotus?’

He was always with the guards, yet he had been nowhere to be seen during the entire demonic army attack.

Although technically a non-combatant as the head of management—

‘I thought he’d fight with the elite of the shadows.’

Surely, he hadn’t been caught up and taken down during the battle.

Arpheus’s expression turned worried.

In truth, he had grown quite close to this peculiarly named man recently.

‘We get along so well.’

He found himself sharing various concerns and inner thoughts, something unusual for the typically wary Arpheus.

‘He feels just like an old friend from home.’

...No, calling him a friend from home wasn’t quite accurate.

Arpheus had never really had a “home.”

It was more like he felt more at ease with Ignotus than with his long-time confidants from the North.

At least when he was with Ignotus, he didn’t need to maintain a noble demeanor like he did in front of his subordinates.

Conversations with him lifted the constant pressure and burdens that had weighed on him since declaring himself a hero.

It was a great comfort in the harsh routine of managing the seal.

‘...I’d be sad if he had died in battle.’

Just as Arpheus started heading towards the barracks to look for him—

Tap-tap—

Urgent footsteps approached, and Ignotus rushed inside the sealed area, looking anxious.

It was a rare sight for someone usually so calm and composed.

Arpheus quickly waved with a relieved smile.

“Oh, there you are! I was just about to look for you out of concern. Are you alright?”

“...I’m fine. I stayed out of harm’s way right after the attack.”

“Haha, good job. No need to worry; the demonic army was repelled without any damage.”

“You must’ve had a hard time. By the way...”

Ignotus’s eyes shifted to the space behind Arpheus.

“Is there any problem with the seal?”

“A problem... well, not exactly.”

Arpheus turned around as he continued.

“For a moment, it seemed like the color had changed, so I checked it.”

Ignotus’s face stiffened, prompting Arpheus to hastily add,

“Oh, but it was a mistake. There was no problem at all. I checked it two, three times.”

Yet Ignotus still seemed uneasy, making Arpheus feel uncomfortable as well.

“...What’s wrong?”

“I’d better inspect it myself.”

Without another word, Ignotus and the hero walked into the inner part of the sealed area.

Arpheus followed, looking puzzled.

“...”

“...Is there any issue? I didn’t see any.”

Arpheus asked, but the hero slowly shook his head.

The seal was indeed intact.

The color remained blue, and the magic circle and formulas constituting the seal were unchanged.

‘...The seal and the children are fine.’

The hero narrowed his eyes, organizing his thoughts.

What exactly was the fragment of the demon king manifesting in the present world?

Was it merely a chunk of power?

Or perhaps a kind of avatar?

And if so, what was its purpose?

There was no way to know for now.

‘I’d better inform my comrades and gather information.’

Even if they couldn’t convene immediately, it would be wise to hold a meeting via communication.

Maktania, holding onto Cuculli’s horn and standing on her head, whispered,

“Just a little longer. Victory is close.”

“Leave it to me.”

The war that had been unfavorable for three years.

Defeating Malekia and the third legion could turn the tide.

The professor and friends would be so pleased.

Just as Cuculli was thinking this, a giant set of teeth suddenly appeared right in front of her.

“Cuculli!”

Crack—!

The teeth and claws of the two dragons tore into each other’s scales.

Painful roars, blood, and scale fragments filled the sky.

A sharp voice penetrated Cuculli’s ears.

[Your pain, your screams, are sweeter than I imagined.]

Cuculli gritted her teeth and responded.

“Shut up!”

Crack—!

Cuculli’s teeth once again bit into Malekia’s neck, and Malekia’s claws tore into Cuculli’s side.

The pain shot through her like lightning, but Cuculli noticed that Malekia’s expression didn’t change at all.

In fact, there was a tremor of ecstasy.

But then.

Whoosh—!

A white light flashed on the opposite side of the field.

A divine spear suddenly appeared and pierced Malekia’s opposite side.

Maktania had somehow dropped down and ambushed her by circling around.

As the massive holy power penetrated, a painful roar finally erupted from Malekia’s mouth.

Maktania, having gained recognition and strength in the current world, was now capable of much greater holy power than three years ago.

[Aaaaargh—!]

Cuculli smiled brightly.

“Oh, it’s sweet!”

Whoosh—!

With wings of light spread, Maktania flew back towards Cuculli’s head, narrowly dodging Malekia’s swiftly swung forepaw.

[You pesky little fly!]

With blazing red eyes, Malekia charged.

The distance was too close, so Cuculli gritted her teeth, ready for a collision.

“......”

However, the battle inadvertently reached a lull.

Maktania, Cuculli, and Malekia all focused their gaze on a small silhouette that suddenly appeared.

The intruder ignored Cuculli and Maktania, fixating solely on Malekia.

“Malekia, stop thinking foolishly and retreat as planned.”

[...Theo.]

“The southern side has succeeded, so hurry up.”

[It’s a cause for celebration, but...]

Thud—

Malekia’s bright yellow eyes rolled towards

Theo. Her thin, snake-like pupils widened as if finding something intriguing.

[There seems to have been an incident.]

“...What?”

[You’ve become pathetically weak.]

Theo sneered.

“So you want to have a feast here? His Majesty would be so pleased.”

[You, who devoured our old friend, have no right to speak.]

Malekia continued smoothly.

[I will serve His Majesty alone.]

Theo immediately retorted with a sneering face, but no one present heard his words.

Rumble—

An ominous vibration, like an earthquake, suddenly struck.

Startled, the armies at their feet momentarily fell silent.

In the sudden quiet, Maktania whispered softly.

“It’s the seal.”

After a moment of trembling, the snowy field returned to silence.

The snow fell as if nothing had happened, and the sound of clashing steel resumed.

However, Malekia, who had been burning with fighting spirit moments ago, seemed to have lost all desire to fight.

She glared at Theo with wide eyes.

[No way.]

Theo looked just as baffled.

The wrinkles around his eyes expressed disbelief.

“...Already?”

Of course, Cuculli and Maktania couldn’t understand their conversation at all.

But there was one thing they could understand.

Maktania whispered slowly and very quietly.

“Cuculli.”

It was as if she believed someone nearby was watching them.

“Let’s run.”

In the sky, beyond the clouds, a giant eye, replacing the sun, was staring down at them.

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