Chapter Index





    Ch.117One Last Time

    # 1.

    After the mental barrier collapsed.

    “My Lord, a hero has arrived!”

    The door to the Blood Clan’s audience chamber burst open as a former subordinate rushed in.

    Was it to confuse Casler?

    The subordinate who tumbled in grabbed Casler’s robe and shook it noisily.

    “Are you listening!? It’s a hero, a hero!! The first hero ordained by the goddess!!”

    “…You’re being quite dramatic.”

    “Is this really the time to act cool?! Please get out there and deal with this!!”

    But this was a fabricated world.

    ‘I have no intention of playing along.’

    Realizing that lingering would only expose the past, Casler began to unleash all his power.

    However, he soon realized:

    【Impossible.】

    【<Germination> is in progress.】

    ‘I’m already at the center of the illusion.’

    Illusion.

    A mental image that makes one perceive something non-existent as real.

    Flora’s ultimate skill <Germination> creates reincarnations related to memories, and the deeper one is entangled, the more one believes the reincarnation to be truth.

    Having already moved to the center of the illusion, Casler could only use the power of his illusory self, not the power he possessed in reality.

    So Casler shifted his gaze to the subordinate making a commotion before him.

    “My Looooord!!! It’s a hero, a hero!!! We’ll truly be annihilated at this rate!!!”

    Silver hair,

    Red eyes,

    Pale skin and a monocle.

    “You, Garendal, was it?”

    “What!? Is my name important right now!? The hero is right at our doorstep……”

    This incessant chatterbox was the first of his kind that Casler had created after being established as Lord.

    The first hero was born.

    Garendal was alive.

    The hero visited the Blood Clan’s castle.

    ‘…Could it be.’

    Inferring the current period from these three facts, Casler sighed and asked:

    “How many of our clan remain?”

    “What!? Now you’re asking about—!!”

    “Silence. I asked how many of our clan remain.”

    “Uh…”

    Finally ceasing his flustered behavior, Garendal stood frozen in shock, rolling his eyes around before answering.

    “Probably a little over ten thousand.”

    “I thought as much.”

    The period when the first hero Ran visited was truly the golden age of the Blood Clan.

    Born naturally as A-rank, with some even surpassing S-rank depending on their efforts,

    “In this state, I can’t even stop Ran, let alone escape.”

    “Pardon?”

    “I said I can’t stop her. The hero.”

    “Whaaaaat?!!”

    Such was the nature of the Blood Clan’s Lord.

    Casler was a paradoxical being who grew weaker as his clan prospered and multiplied, yet became strongest when left alone.

    ‘At this rate… there’s a possibility I could be trapped in this illusion forever.’

    Though pressed down by a strange malice and deeply immersed, he could still maintain his sanity for now.

    But if too much time passed, he would soon accept the illusion as truth, like clothes soaked in rain, and become trapped.

    So Casler made a decision.

    ‘I’ll escape before that happens.’

    As mentioned earlier, Casler had only dipped his feet into the illusion.

    At this moment,

    While his mind was still intact, if he removed all three restrictions placed upon himself and regained his power as Lord?

    ‘I could escape immediately.’

    The original power of the Blood Clan’s Lord was the greatest and most powerful among all ancient species.

    Though the unknown entity who kidnapped him and the one who drew him into this space were using strange powers, they would be no match for him with all his power unleashed.

    ‘After removing the restrictions and regaining my power, I’ll subdue both and present them to the Captain.’

    No sooner had he made this decision than the three restrictions he had placed on himself to blend in among humans began to be released one by one.

    ‘First, the 1st restriction – Suppression.’

    This was a physical seal that Casler had placed upon himself.

    【Blood Clan’s Lord – <Casler(Ex-)> attempts to release all restrictions.】

    【1st Restriction <Suppression> – [Caster <Casler(Ex-)>] – is being released.】

    Being more like power control than an actual restriction, it was released relatively easily compared to the other two, restoring 10% of his power.

    ‘Next is the 2nd restriction – Black Wolf.’

    This was much stronger than the first, a restriction he had willingly accepted to repay his debt to the Black Wolf who had saved him.

    Like water flowing from high to low, it was a contract allowing him to share his power with the Black Wolf, with the condition that they would share life and death.

    Unlike the first contract which he had released himself, to ease or release this contract required the Captain’s permission.

    【Blood Clan’s Lord – <Casler(Ex-)> requests the easing of the <Black Wolf> restriction from caster – <Black Wolf>.】

    Casler focused his mind to touch the restriction, then waited for a response.

    ‘It might take a while.’

    The <Black Wolf> restriction was a leash the members had voluntarily put on themselves for the Black Wolf’s cause.

    According to what he had said before, they could be the harbingers of destruction, so the Black Wolf had firmly stated he would never ease or release this restriction.

    ‘Of course, I’ve seen him ease it at members’ requests in recent months, which is why I asked… but there’s still a possibility of rejection.’

    Therefore, Casler prepared an alternative plan in case of rejection.

    ‘If the Captain refuses… I’ll have to release the third restriction and kill the entire clan to strengthen even my illusory body.’

    Even in an illusion, his power would increase as the number of his clan decreased.

    He thought he could somehow obtain the 30% of power suppressed by the <Black Wolf> restriction by combining illusion and reality.

    But shortly after:

    【Request accepted.】

    【2nd Restriction <Black Wolf> – [Caster <Black Wolf(Ex)>] – is being eased.】

    The request to ease <Black Wolf> was accepted much faster than Casler had worried.

    Normally, such a request would take at least several seconds to minutes, but now it was eased in less than 10 seconds.

    ‘He really has changed in these past few months.’

    A smiling,

    Gentle,

    Kind Captain.

    ‘If he has changed… I might have to become his enemy again, like when we first met.’

    But even this would only be possible after escaping the illusion.

    ‘Focus on the present.’

    Gathering his thoughts, Casler quickly attempted to release the final restriction.

    The last, 3rd restriction.

    Named <Cold Heart>, this restriction with the strongest suppressive power among the three had been cast by:

    【Blood Clan’s Lord – <Casler(Ex-)> requests the easing of the <Cold Heart> restriction from caster – <Ran>.】

    The first hero – Ran.

    Normally, a restriction would be released upon the caster’s death, but this restriction – <Cold Heart> – had not disappeared despite Ran’s death.

    It was a powerful restriction that suppressed more than 60% of Casler’s power.

    Yet Casler had not thought of releasing it since Ran’s death, even now when he could release it with all his clan dead.

    The reason was simple.

    For Casler, who forgot memories faster due to his longevity, this restriction was the only means to remember her.

    Unlike other restrictions that could be freely eased or released while the caster was alive, if this one was eased or released even once,

    ‘It would be permanently undone.’

    Standing before the release of the final restriction, Casler unconsciously recalled Ran’s final moments.

    The moment when she, dying with her heart pierced, whispered to him.

    -Remember me… forever, Casler.

    Her final request as she faced death.

    ‘I wonder if I… who can barely remember the name of the first clan member I gave power to.’

    Could I still remember Ran completely after releasing this restriction, he thought.

    But the next moment.

    CRASH!

    Breaking through the castle gate roughly, the 1st generation hero Ran shouted while raising her holy sword:

    “Can’t we use animal blood instead?!! Not human blood! Animal blood!!”

    Deep navy blue hair,

    Pale white skin,

    A serious yet playful expression.

    “……Ah, if you don’t like it, then fight!!”

    A childlike, bouncy voice that contrasted with her overwhelming holy power that could sweep away the fortress.

    -I wonder if I… who can barely remember the name of the first clan member I gave power to.

    -Could I still remember Ran completely after releasing this restriction…?

    Recalling his earlier concern, Casler quietly closed his eyes and began to deliberate.

    ‘Illusions deepen with repetition.’

    Yet despite the illusion having begun, he still maintained his memories, so,

    ‘Perhaps a few times…’

    No,

    ‘Just once, it might be alright to watch the past repeating like an illusion.’

    Honestly, while he did miss everyone, it wasn’t an emotional choice.

    Having released two restrictions and eased them, 40% of his suppressed power had returned, so one viewing should be fine.

    Yes,

    ‘Just one last time.’

    So, deciding to recreate cherished memories, Casler began to rise from his throne following the memory of his first meeting with Ran, but then sat back down.

    Simultaneously, Garendal hurriedly hid behind the throne.

    “Aaaack!! She, she’s here, my Lord!! That’s her!!! The hero!! The first hero!!”

    “Yes, I am the hero!! If you don’t answer quickly, I’ll just destroy everything!! Huh!!? Hey, you there, Lord! Aren’t you going to answer?!”

    Toward these noisy individuals, Casler quietly extended his hand.

    The first hero Ran.

    His first meeting with her was……

    “Yes, it definitely started like this.”

    【Blood Clan’s Lord – <Casler(SS-)> activates <Red Rain(S+)>】

    Sharp, eerie red spears filled the sky beyond the ceiling, covering the entire fortress.

    Seeing this, Ran looked at Casler and burst into laughter.

    “Pfft…! Is this little trick all you’ve got? Lord of the Blood Clan.”

    Then, bending her waist as if about to charge, she put down her holy sword and declared:

    “Okay. I surrender.”


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