episode_0103

War is work—starting it, leading it, and finishing it.

The war between the Beastman Alliance and the Yeom Country itself ended quickly because I beheaded their leader, Cheonma, in one fell swoop, but the aftermath was long.

“Well, of course, it’s not my business.”

I cut off Cheonma’s head, so why should I have to deal with the aftermath?

Since ancient times, soldiers fight wars, but politicians start and finish them.

The aftermath will be taken care of by Yeomje and the heads and family leaders of various sects, so I can relax and enjoy my leisure time.

“Wh-what are you talking about!”

“Th-that’s right….”

I looked at Baekryeon, who was greatly surprised by the shocking words next to me, and Baekho, who was flustered by Baekryeon’s reaction and couldn’t grasp the situation.

After the war ended, Baekho finally made up her mind and confessed her origins to Baekryeon. Naturally, Baekryeon was greatly surprised by the fact that Baekho, who she thought was her distant ancestor, was actually her biological mother…. The result of that reaction is this.

“What are you so surprised about?”

“H-how can I not be surprised! Young master!!…, no, but did you already know about that reaction?”

“I heard it from her.”

“Hmm?…. Did I tell you such a story?”

Didn’t I tell you?

In fact, whether Baekho told her or not is not important.

What is important now is that Baekryeon is Baekho’s daughter.

“Anyway, what’s important is that Baekryeon, your mother is not dead, you saved your mother, and you avenged your family and family’s enemy with your own hands. Good job.”

“Ah…. About that…. Um. Right.”

“? You don’t look happy?”

It was a word taken out to change the subject, but Baekryeon showed a lukewarm reaction to my words.

I didn’t know the situation on the ground well because I was fighting Cheonma, who had taken over Geomma’s body at the time, but it seems that something not so pleasant happened to Baekryeon.

“What happened? You didn’t meet Red Devil again and cut off his head, did you?”

“Um…. That’s right.”

I turned my gaze to Baekho.

Baekho shrugged at my gaze and said.

“I definitely met Red Devil. But I couldn’t say he was in a normal state.”

“Was he also wrapped in green lightning?”

“That’s right. Like the others in the Beastman Alliance, he was wrapped in green lightning.”

If that’s the case, I think I know the situation roughly.

At the same time, I can roughly guess who the two heroes would have had to face in the original work.

I haven’t met all the executives, but Red Devil is a being who was quite active on the front lines as Cheonma’s subordinate.

If Geomma didn’t become Cheonma’s vessel and left the Beastman Alliance as it was, the next body to become Cheonma’s vessel would have been Red Devil.

And even though Red Devil was stronger than ordinary guys, he’s still just Red Devil.

He wouldn’t have had the power to handle two heroes.

Even if Cheonma was dwelling in him and his power was greatly enhanced.

As an example, even though Red Devil was strengthened by Cheonma’s power, he was eventually defeated by Baekryeon, Seollin, Lucy, and Baekho.

“I can’t forgive that guy. Of course. He annihilated my family, brutally cut down my parents, captured Baekho, the founder of the Baek family and one of the Four Gods, and humiliated her. But at the same time, I felt sorry for him.”

‘Ugh…. This…, this is not what I wanted…. The power I wanted… is not like this….’

Baekryeon recalled.

As her body burned by the green lightning, and at the same time, her mind was eroded by Cheonma by the lightning. She shook her head, recalling the appearance of Red Devil writhing in pain while losing himself like that.

“He was a man who deserved to die. He was a man who shed countless blood for his own desires. But at the same time, seeing him face such an end, I felt like I was a fool for having lived my whole life for revenge for him.”

Indeed, is that so.

Well, it wouldn’t feel good to see someone you thought was your lifelong enemy collapse powerlessly by the hands of others, not your own.

Should I say it doesn’t feel good?

Anyway, I think I know how Baekryeon feels now.

“Well, anyway, it’s all over, so don’t worry too much about it.”

“…Um. I guess so.”

Baekryeon smiled lightly and nodded.

“Then…. Um…. Ms. Baekho?….”

“What is it?”

“Th-then…. Um…. Can I call you…, mother?”

Baekho’s eyes widened for a moment at Baekryeon’s words.

Then, she smiled quietly and nodded.

“Of course, of course. Baekryeon, you are my child who directly inherits my blood, so there is no need to refuse.”

“….”

Baekryeon’s body was seen trembling rapidly at Baekho’s words.

Then, Baekryeon carefully hugged Baekho.

Baekho embraced Baekryeon with her generous chest with affection, and carefully stroked Baekryeon’s head as if handling a precious object.

“M-mother….”

“Yes, my daughter. You’ve worked hard all this time. Because I was weak, I made you go through things you didn’t have to go through.”

“No…. I….”

Baekryeon, who had been trembling, started to sob and shed tears.

She is a woman who lost her entire family at a very young age, and since then has desperately endured with the sole intention of revenge.

After fulfilling her lifelong wish, she may have lost her future goals.

In that sense, it might be good timing for Baekho to reveal this fact now.

Because it could have presented Baekryeon, who had lost her goal, with a new goal.

‘…A new goal.’

Baekryeon is not the only one who needs a new goal.

I also need a new goal.

‘Cheonma is dealt with. And this is exactly the ending of the incompetent hero’s success story in the original work. The contents after this… if I remember correctly, I remember developing it through the sequel called the Adventures of the Demonic Hero…. Unfortunately, I didn’t do that far.’

What I know about the sequel is only a rough synopsis.

Certainly, the Adventures of the Demonic Hero begins with Leon, the protagonist of the incompetent hero’s success story, dying due to the betrayal of two other heroes, and a female hero being selected as Leon’s successor.

Of course, as you can see from the game title, this female hero is a demon without realizing it herself.

In addition, this girl was kind like Leon, so the basic story was that she was being sexually developed by various people she met while adventuring, or even her own colleagues. I don’t know what the ending is….

‘But I didn’t die. And Cheonma was defeated. Furthermore, Cheonma was caught much earlier than in the original timeline.’

Originally, I had to solve various incidents and accidents in the Central Continent and then cross over to the Yeom Country, but I skipped all those processes and came straight to the Yeom Country and cut off Cheonma’s head….

I have no idea how this world will flow in the future.

“Are you afraid of the journey ahead, young believer?”

“If you’re going to talk nonsense, shut up and be quiet.”

“Eing, you’re too much.”

Lucy, who had come up to me before I knew it, pouted her lips.

“Aren’t you worried about the journey ahead?”

“That’s…. That’s right.”

“Then how about going to the Holy Country? As I said before, there is someone who wants to meet you.”

“The Holy Country.”

Come to think of it, I was thinking of stopping by there once.

[Ah, if it’s the Holy Country, you might be able to hear the voice of the Goddess directly!]

Makina reacted to the word Holy Country.

[The Holy Country is where our Holy Sword first came down to this land. As such, it is a region where the connection with the Goddess remains strong. If you go there, you might be able to hear the story of the Goddess, Master!]

“Goddess….”

I turn my gaze to Lucy.

She was staring at me blankly and tilting her head. Looking at that appearance alone, she’s quite…. Cute, but….

“The person who wants to meet me is not the Goddess, is it?”

“No. It’s the Saintess. She is the only person in this world who can hear the voice of the Goddess.”

“The voice of the Goddess.”

Anyway, I think I’ll have to stop by the Holy Country eventually.

“Okay. Then let’s make the Holy Country our next goal.”

“Yay~ You’re finally coming to the Holy Country~”

Lucy raised her arms in a victory pose and jumped up.

“Sniff, it was so hard. I was always following the hero who mistreated me in a distant foreign land and assisting him, which was so mentally difficult….”

“Sorry about that.”

“It’s okay. Actually, it wasn’t that hard.”

“….”

Which beat should I dance to?

“Are you now leaving the land of Yeom Country?”

“I have to. I’m not from here in the first place. And all my business here is over.”

Baekho, who had a good conversation with Baekryeon, looked at me after hearing the story of Lucy and me.

Also, Baekryeon, whose eyes were slightly red because she cried as much as she could, also looked at me together.

“Young master…. Thank you. If it weren’t for you…. I wouldn’t have been able to see Ms. Baekho…. No, my mother again.”

That’s right.

After all, there were Geomma and Cheonma behind Red Devil.

No matter how hard Baekryeon tried, she would not have been able to catch up with those two guys.

“Come to think of it, you guys will be returning to the Jo.”

“Huh?”

“Baekho, you have to protect the Jo due to the contract. Baekryeon, you also have to revive the family again.”

“Th-that’s true, but….”

Come to think of it, Seollin must be the same.

Since she has become the head of the Tang Family, she will now have to live in the Tang Family as the head.

I don’t know if that girl’s personality can handle it….

“Anyway, let’s get some rest today.”

“Um….”

“I understand for now….”