episode_0188

000

“Cain…”

In the dark room, a final breath, like air escaping, flowed out.

The empire was losing its past glory and heading down a path of decline day by day.

However, he opened the doors to the national treasury, considered the last bulwark of the country, and ordered it to provide assistance to the people’s livelihood.

Worrying more than anyone about the future of the country, having an unbiased view of people, and showing a figure without shame as the nation’s benefactor, a man’s voice.

It was too embarrassing, weak, and futile.

His face was full of astonishment, doubt, and fear.

Only after his body was pierced by his adopted son’s sword did he realize his true nature and original purpose.

What is the nation’s benefactor, what is the emperor of the empire?

His vision was obscured by darkness, and accepting the young man to whom he would entrust the future as his adopted son was no different from feeding a beast that would cause turmoil on the continent.

The Emperor sincerely considered Cain his own son.

Because of a disease acquired thanks to the stupid ideology of the Regios family, the imperial family, which maintained the purity of the imperial bloodline and repeated unnecessary incest.

After learning that he, the Emperor, was unable to have children himself, following the idea that a new wind should blow in the imperial palace and in the empire.

Cain, a commoner recommended by the Duke’s family as a figure with high support from the people, no problem with his abilities, and who would make the empire prosperous again, was adopted.

Unlike himself, who was sick, weak, and did not have much time left, he thought that the dreams of the empire could be entrusted to him.

Even if he did not rush, Cain was scheduled to become the new emperor if he died.

But Cain did not wait.

Without waiting, he chose to usurp everything, not to `inherit` the empire’s throne.

Unless he was going to start a war, there would have been no need to do so at all.

Therefore, when the Emperor’s body was pierced by his adopted son’s magic sword, in the cold sensation of the sword and the storm of rushing dark magic.

After looking at his coldly burning eyes, he saw his adopted son’s true identity.

What he truly desired was not the position of emperor of the empire.

It was a position and power that could pour everything from the empire to consume for the enemy that must be destroyed.

`But, then, Cain. My adopted son. You will be destroyed. You will be defeated.`

The last thing the Emperor of the Empire left behind was that worry.

Not a curse, but a worry that everything in the empire would disappear into ashes.

He was worried that the young man who should have straightened the country again had become `firewood` engulfed in the flames of revenge and burning himself.

Soon, in that worry, the Emperor’s thoughts completely stopped, his body cooled, and his soul left his body.

Feeling that, Cain pulled the sword from the Emperor’s body, the existence who had become the first person he could call `Father`.

He knocked his body down onto the steps in front of the throne.

When Cain, looking down at the pool of blood spreading on the carpeted steps, turned his gaze, he saw the figure of `Otis`, who was always looking at him with a polite attitude.

“Your Majesty the Emperor – no, the Imperial Guards, who swore allegiance only to the former Emperor, have all been captured. If you order their execution, I will do so.”

“… Simply killing them is a loss of manpower. Poltuk wanted new experimental materials. He said he wanted humans with the strongest physical abilities. Let’s make it a gift for him.”

When Cain said that, a huge man, who had dragged the hair of the female knight, who was the emperor’s closest aide and the only one who stayed by his side without leaving, into the throne room, scoffed.

“Ha. Isn’t entrusting it to that madman a loss of manpower? Boss. I don’t remember him ever creating anything normal using humans as experimental material.”

“Beylin. I think His Majesty the Emperor told me not to kill her.”

`Beylin of Conquest`, one of the four black giants who swore allegiance to Cain, like Otis.

His body, which freely wielded an ax as big as himself, was a manifestation of immense destruction that ordinary people could not possibly follow, thanks to his physical abilities and brutality inherited from being mixed with giants.

“Don’t worry. She’s still alive.”

He said that and casually threw the female knight’s body, battered and armor crushed, in front of Cain.

“Otis, restrain her body and cast healing magic to extend her life.”

“Understood. Your Majesty.”

Cain, turning his body away from Otis, who faithfully carried out his orders, simply pushed the fallen man’s corpse away with his foot and sat on the throne.

How small was the man who had become a cold corpse before his eyes? It felt too narrow for Cain, who was wearing black armor all over his body.

“I guess we need to prepare a new throne.”

Otis also looked at the scene and shook his head, mocking the weak predecessor.

In the next moment, a telepathic message through imprinting flowed into Cain’s head.

[All the local commanders who were gathered elsewhere have come under our command…. The older sister wasn’t there, though.]

[Okay. I understand. You come here too.]

Cain, having heard the story from Hyutina, quietly closed his eyes. The screaming that had been tearing through the imperial palace until just now, brought by the bloodbath, was no longer heard.

Whenever he heard the screams of the powerless, he was reminded of the children’s voices that he heard when Abel died as a child.

The struggles of the weak, who don’t know what to do, pleading, and screaming in despair.

Even now, more than a decade later, his head aches when he hears such sounds.

Above all, it felt like all the screams he had made until he came to this position were overlapping.

He wanted to erase all of those things.

“It’s 5 years.”

When Cain quietly opened his mouth, Otis knelt before him once again.

Beylin and Hyutina, who had somehow entered the throne room.

They knelt before Cain and looked up at him.

“Within 5 years, finish all preparations and attack the kingdom. The target is the royal capital `Elkerdo`. And, the kingdom’s prince hiding there… `Lucius Caldearis` and his family.”

[And. Adam.]

When Pandora spoke as if whispering, Cain looked down at the three people with black eyes.

“Destroy and trample on everything they cherish. Let them know that only death is salvation to be liberated from this false world.”

Otis trembled as if feeling joy at Cain’s command, and excitedly lifted his head as if he had received a divine revelation.

“I will make your words the law of the empire. But, Your Majesty the Emperor. Now, all the people of the empire will see you as an incarnation of death, as one who carries out a great will. No one will call you by your `name`.”

Otis said that and stood up, using exaggerated gestures and tones.

Hyutina and Beylin looked at him with expressions as if saying, “Here we go again.”

“Therefore. This insignificant limb of yours bestows a new title upon Your Majesty. All who hear this name will feel your power…. The new name to be engraved in history is `Magic Sword Emperor`!”

“… …”

“Wielding the majestic and beautiful magic sword himself, making the entire continent the territory of the empire and ruling over it, it’s a title worthy of a legendary figure!”

[Isn’t it too simple?]

Cain ignored Pandora’s words and spoke to Otis.

“Do as you please with the title and how to call me. But, make sure they don’t forget their fear of me.”

The new emperor of the empire was a `demon` who had abandoned the heart of a human.

Then, it was only natural that the empire he ruled and the providence he spread would also become a `demon realm`.

001

The Crown Prince’s room in the Imperial Palace.

After dismissing the three people, Cain led himself alone and slowly returned to his room with heavy steps.

A desolate sight, with only minimal furniture.

It was too shabby for the Crown Prince of the Empire to live in, but in the first place, Cain did not feel pleasure in luxury, so it was enough for him to have a bed to lie down on and a closet to put his clothes in.

And, on top of that bed, as always, a girl with eternal purity, with her eyes closed.

She was waiting for her partner to return.

“Cain-nim.”

“… Lilim.”

The difference in body size, which began to show even during his cadet days, has now completely widened like an adult and a girl.

“I will take off your armor.”

When Lilim quietly opened her eyes and approached Cain, who was standing in front of the bed, she loosened the fasteners that were tightening the black armor that was constricting his body.

The armor was made of the ancient rare metal `Soul Eater Metal`, which is said to eat human souls and increase its hardness.

Clang, clang. What was hidden inside the monster-like armor falling to the ground.

It was a young man with the soul of a demon but still in human form.

The Soul Eater Metal armor not only had defensive power but also had the power to enhance the wearer’s dark magic, but as a side effect, it tried to erode even the wearer’s soul.

Pandora intervened between the armor and Cain, so there was no direct damage to the soul.

Since he started using this armor, Cain could feel himself slowly losing his expression and his emotions drying up.

However, that might be a good thing.

If he thought that emotions other than `revenge`, `hatred`, and `grudges` might ruin things, it wasn’t bad to exclude them in the first place.

He wanted to cut out all the weak parts inside himself and part ways with fear.

But – even Cain had one fear.

That was –

“… …”

When Lilim’s touch loosened the last fastener, Cain’s body, completely liberated from the armor, was covered in sweat, and Lilim stared at Cain for a moment, then hesitated and reached out her hand.

But, Cain’s hand instinctively pushed away Lilim’s hand.

“… Sorry, Lilim.”

The only thing Cain feared was contact with `Lilim`.

Brushing her hair like when they were children.

Washing each other’s bodies in the bath.

Telling stories while giving her a pillow for her arms.

Saying good night and kissing her on the cheek.

All of them were just a scene from a long time ago.

“If I’m in contact with Lilim. It feels like what I was trying to throw away will come back…. My incomplete, deficient parts…. As if trying to fill them again.”

Cain said that and took a step back, distancing himself from Lilim.

“Maybe, as Lilim said. Lilim and I are trying to become complete by becoming one…. But, not yet.”

He can regain what he threw away himself if Lilim is there. That, perhaps…. May become a `place to return to` for Cain after everything is over.

“…I’m really sorry, Lilim. But someday. When everything is over-”

“It’s okay. Cain-nim. …I waited 5000 years to meet you. Even if it’s several years or even decades from now. It’s just a fleeting time for me.”

As if comforting Cain, Lilim opened her mouth.

Smiling slightly, towards the young man who was lamenting not being able to respond to her respect.

“Also, receiving special treatment from you that is different from other women doesn’t feel so bad.”

Baal said that the reason her body doesn’t grow is a defect of the `Eve Unit 1` that created her.

Thanks to that, she doesn’t have a `lifespan` and can wait forever.

Until the day comes when her other half turns to herself.

“So. Please, finish your work.”

So that the day can come.

002

That day did not come.

Cain. Cain Lupus Regios. Magic Sword Emperor.

Lilim’s other half was defeated by the warrior `Resia`.

Lilim, who does not have the power to fight on her own, was made to hide in a place where even the warrior party could not find her by Cain just before the final battle.

Until the time when her other half has removed everything blocking her path and returns.

Quietly, quietly. Holding her breath even in terrible solitude.

[───…]

When she heard a certain voice pass by her ear.

Hot tears flowed down Lilim’s cheeks.

Slowly, she got up and got out of her hiding place.

And. Following the voice calling her, she walked through the forest, along the mountain path-

There, leaning against a tree, with cracks starting to form all over her body.

There was `Pandora`.

“…Lilim.”

“… …”

Pandora looked at Lilim, who had come to find her, and took a deep breath. And, as if resentful, she speaks with a dark face that she had never shown before.

“Cain is dead.”

“… …”

What was lacking? The Holy Sword of Light `Caladbolg` was clearly a sword that wielded overwhelming divine magic. You could say it was an incarnation of light.

But, in terms of pure output, clearly her side was superior. Physical ability, Cain was able to overwhelm the warrior.

But no matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t come up with a result.

And, her body was collapsing.

The end of the magic sword that had lost its master was approaching.

“Cain-nim. Is not dead.”

“… Well… That’s true. That guy, he’ll `reincarnate`.”

I don’t know when that will be. Pandora’s body, which leaves the same words, slowly turns into ashes from her fingertips and begins to disappear.

Lilim slowly walked over and grabbed Pandora’s arm.

If Lilim starts injecting the dark magic needed to maintain her existence, Pandora’s collapse will be delayed.

“… It’s no use. Without Cain, I-”

“Make a contract with me and maintain your existence.”

At Lilim’s words, Pandora looked up at Lilim.

“I thought you hated me.”

“… …”

“Cain’s touch that you can’t receive, his affection…. `Cain` who treats me as if I’m you instead…. You’re just watching that.”

Pandora raised the corners of her mouth and straightened her body.

“We hate each other. Right?”

“… When Cain-nim returns someday. Your power is needed.”

At Lilim’s words, Pandora sighed.

“Don’t worry about that. That guy will have a new magic sword every time he reincarnates…. In other words, should I say that I’m reincarnating too?”

“It can’t be anyone but you. Without you, Cain-nim cannot be Cain-nim. You’re the only one who can make him the `Magic Sword Emperor`.”

When Cain reincarnates, he will lose all memories of being Cain.

And, he will have a new magic sword instead of Pandora.

It becomes an existence that was `Cain` but is not `Cain`.

In order to continue what Cain had not yet accomplished, the next one also had to be `Cain`.

Because she and he can be connected when the time comes when he finishes everything.

In the next moment, a large amount of dark magic that Pandora possessed burst out and surrounded Pandora.

“You…! If you interfere with me disappearing here now, the next Cain- the reincarnation will not be able to have a magic sword! Then, that guy might die powerless!”

However, Lilim began to absorb Pandora into her body as if she didn’t hear her.

“Tch… This annoying woman…!”

Pandora tried to turn her body into the form of a sword when half of her body had been swallowed.

Turning back into the form of a sword with a collapsing body was an act that would strain even the soul, so she didn’t want to do it-

`Crack-!`

At the same time, the remaining part of Pandora turned to ashes and scattered.

However. Half of her was already absorbed into Lilim, and within her, she took root as a new Pandora with half the power.

Lilim, having absorbed Pandora, stroked her stomach as if lovingly stroking a baby in her womb.

Her eyes had already turned vacant.

“…Hehe. Cain-nim. I will wait for you forever.”

“Ah. That’s right, when we meet again, I need to be a slightly more attractive woman.”

“Surely, even in the next life. You won’t embrace me who has the body of such a young child.”

“I need strength…. I can even sell my soul to the devil. Next time, so that I can protect Cain-nim….”

“No- should I just become the devil itself….”

Staggering, Lilim’s steps head towards the imperial palace.

Surely there, there will be `defective products` born between the devil and Cain’s wives.

If she uses those children….

003

From the ground like a black swamp, a young man’s arm popped out.

What succeeded in barely returning from the bottom of a deep, deep consciousness, from the space of thought connected to his soul.

It was Cleon who had experienced all of Cain’s life.

Cleon’s head, staggering out of the swamp and taking a rough deep breath, was in a situation where he could not properly distinguish whether he was Cleon or Cain as a result of the complex entanglement of memories and seeing the life of a man in his twenties as it was.

“Resia… Lilim… Tch… I am…!”

“It doesn’t matter which one you are. Your role is to stop the rampaging of humanity created by `Adam`.”

At that time, in this space that should only have himself, a voice similar to his own was heard.

When Cleon lifted his head, the `Black Magic Clan` was standing there, wearing black armor and holding a familiar greatsword, looking at him.

The way he looked was almost identical to Cleon himself.

“Magic Sword, Emperor-”

Cleon unwittingly referred to him by that name, but then shook his head, feeling a different presence inside him, and stood up.

“No… It’s different. You are the reincarnation factor inside me…. Is it an illusion created by that?”

“It doesn’t matter which one my existence is. My significance is to make the black magic reincarnator fulfill his mission.”

The Magic Sword Emperor said that and pointed the tip of the greatsword at Cleon.

“For his sake. It’s an irregular situation, but it’s also possible to revive the self of the past that was awakened. If that can fight against Adam more efficiently.”

“What…?”

Cleon doubted his ears after hearing his words.

“What, is efficient…! No matter how much you have a cause, how many people did the empire sacrifice…! How many people had to be sad because of that…!”

“It’s a necessary sacrifice.”

“There’s no such thing as a necessary sacrifice in this world! Sacrifice is not something forced by others!”

When Cleon shouted that in anger, Cain closed his eyes and shook his head.

“As expected, this reincarnation is an irregularity. What’s the cause…? All the reincarnations of the past have wielded powerful forces for the purpose when they reached a certain emotional line. If you can’t do that…. You don’t suit the ego of the reincarnation.”

Cain, having finished speaking up to that point, swung the greatsword at Cleon.

Cleon quickly rolled his body and tried to borrow Laila’s magic from the imprint.

“The connection of the imprint…!”

“This is the space inside you. It’s impossible to bring in external forces…. Be replaced by me.”

Cain increased the output of dark magic and rushed towards Cleon.

Compared to Cain, who had a greatsword with the same shape as Pandora, Cleon was empty-handed.

Even though this is inside himself, if he is cut by that and loses consciousness….

“Don’t be ridiculous…!”

Cleon quickly raised his arm and dug into Cain’s arms.

And, the hand that grabbed the sword he was wielding grabbed and blocked it from being struck down.

“Accept the mission…! Reincarnator!”

Cain pressing down from above and Cleon supporting and blocking it from below.

“Mission… fate… significance… all of that is just arbitrarily decided…! I decided that I will only wield the sword to protect what I want to protect and save what I want to save…! This world that she protected and…. my comrades…! And, even Resia…!”

At Cleon’s shout, Cain’s face was distorted. It was as if he was looking at an abomination.

“Is he mistaking himself for being a warrior…! Your ego is not suitable for the ego of a `reincarnation`…! I banish you! From this world…. From this body!”

In the next moment, Cain’s sword pressed down on Cleon with a sensation that was several times heavier.

“Tch…!”

It’s hard to endure any longer. Just when Cleon was thinking that, trying to somehow block the enemy in front of him-

[Cleon!]

Piercing through space, a beautiful yet familiar sword flew into Cain’s hand.

“Galatea…!”

When Cleon called her name, a wave of magic burst out from Galatea’s whole body and pushed Cain away.

Quickly distancing himself and taking a stance, Cleon looked down at Galatea who had suddenly appeared.

[…Are you thinking of fighting without a weapon?]

“… No. No way.”

Cain was still glaring at Cleon with cold eyes.

[… …]

“It seems that it’s not just `Adam` who has gone crazy.”

Cleon said that and pointed Galatea at Cain.

“I will stop Adam. But, I’m not going to throw everything away for that. The bond with my comrades, and myself…! Just like `Resia` did in the past…!”

The dark magic flowing out of Galatea covered Cleon’s whole body.

Soon, between the hardened magic helmets like black armor- a flash of light shone.

“I won’t give up anything…! I wield the sword with my beliefs…!”