Ch.221Transcender (2)

The Blazing Duke Beliareus appeared in the first installment as someone who could only be described as a bumbling fool.

Having been deceived and stripped of his armor, weapons, and money pouch, he found himself in quite a predicament and asked the protagonist for help. The protagonist, through their own methods, retrieved his belongings and returned them to Beliareus.

It seemed that Beliareus accompanied the protagonist as a companion afterward to repay the debt.

Normally, an ordinary companion would either become sickened by Eshatherna’s cruelty or end up murdered, but Beliareus was an exception.

He was too much of a hardened man, born and raised in the Demon Realm, to be disturbed by cruelty.

Moreover, he was far too obtuse to even perceive Eshatherna’s brutality.

And that wasn’t all. His combat prowess was also formidable, rivaling even Eshatherna’s strength.

With his exclusive special talent of his family’s secret sword technique, he excelled in close combat, and due to his high charisma that earned him the favor of the Star, his “skills” as a Contractor who borrowed the power of the Star were incomparably powerful.

While Eshatherna, the master of martial arts and foremost assassin, was certainly superior in one-on-one combat, personal duels, and tanking ability.

In terms of firepower, even through the trilogy, few character builds—including the protagonist’s—could surpass Beliareus.

With his overwhelming firepower, tanking ability comparable to most dedicated tanks, and his good-natured yet appropriately oblivious personality without any rough edges, Beliareus was always treated as a party member in every installment.

In popularity polls, he even achieved the remarkable feat of taking first place, surpassing traditional favorites like Eshatherna and Melody, the scene-stealer from the second installment.

Of course, one couldn’t deny that the “BL-areus who dates the protagonist” perception among the female players who flooded in during the trilogy was quite popular.

But since there was no such official setting, he didn’t worry about it.

Rather, the Blazing Duke was a man of pure devotion to his fiancée, so such perceptions could be considered distortions.

That’s why when Luwellin saw the Blazing Duke, what came to mind was something close to nostalgia and delight.

“…It seems to suit your taste?”

“Hmm? Oh, yes! It’s absolutely delicious! It’s like eating food from my homeland!”

This man was leisurely eating a meal in the Demon Realm.

While the Sword Saint and Lorian lay unconscious in suitable places, and as Melody applied ointment to them.

He was heartily enjoying the stew made by Isla.

“When someone from the Demon Realm says that… isn’t that an insult?”

“But I loved my homeland’s cuisine. It’s full of vitality and shows traces of ingenuity.”

The Blazing Duke smiled contentedly as he recalled his homeland, while Melody sighed as if giving up.

Luwellin was observing the two of them intently from a step away.

“Is it good?”

“Yes, it’s truly delicious. Being able to eat comfortably even after starving for about nine days is wonderful indeed.”

The Blazing Duke smiled politely, and Isla wagged her tail from side to side at his praise.

He showed no concern about her being a beastkin. Luwellin was carefully examining the Blazing Duke when their eyes met.

“Why are you looking at me like that, Lucilla’s sibling?”

Blazing Duke Beliareus.

Innocent, bumbling, strong, and kind-hearted Contractor.

Having just witnessed the true nature of a Transcendent, Luwellin was worried whether this Beliareus was the same one he knew.

He wondered if this was truly the same person he knew, or if, like his kind and most excellent sister whom he called his best sister had somehow changed and developed a cruel side, perhaps there was something different about him too.

But it was an unfounded concern. Luwellin recalled the Beliareus he had seen in the game.

The Beliareus in that game and the Beliareus in this reality were almost identical.

If anything, he remained completely unchanged, still just as innocent.

‘What’s the secret to maintaining such innocence?’

He couldn’t understand it.

“Luwellin will do.”

“Luwellin. Hmm, your names are similar, as siblings often are.”

“…Because we don’t have a surname.”

The Demon Realm was clearly a dangerous place.

But now, due to the overwhelming presence of the Transcendent and Luwellin’s formidable strength that had overcome it, danger had retreated.

Among them, the overwhelming presence of the Transcendent still remained in place.

The Star.

The power of the Transcendent that Luwellin had recently borrowed and used, and the being that until recently had been considered by Luwellin as “the safest Transcendent.”

Luwellin was wary of the Blazing Duke.

“I was just thinking that it must have been difficult for you.”

Transcendents are enemies. Though he had only fought one, after learning the truth about the Great Ascension, things became suspicious.

Thinking about it, it made sense. In a land where gods once existed, something had devoured the gods, pretended to be them, and freely bestowed power upon “spiritually attractive and magically abundant beings” it favored?

It wasn’t normal. Even the term “Contractor” was actually quite concerning when one thought about it.

Moreover, Luwellin knew of one Contractor whose end was not good.

Renia, the previous owner of the head Luwellin now possessed—the head occupied by the God of Dreams—was such a person.

As the first Structuralist and a renowned witch, she opened the world as a Structuralist, and after seeing a Transcendent, went mad and became a witch.

Was it really madness?

Now, Luwellin was questioning whether it was simply madness or something else.

At the very least, if it truly was madness, the Transcendent likely had a substantial stake in that insanity.

Perhaps that was what the Transcendent wanted.

That’s why Luwellin remained cautious despite Beliareus’s familiar face.

It was a wariness that neither the perceptive Melody nor Isla, who knew Luwellin well, could detect.

“Hmm, for someone who says that, you seem to be quite wary of me.”

The only exception was the person himself.

Luwellin’s eyes widened, and the Blazing Duke smiled.

“Of course, I understand. Even just from the energy I feel here… I can guess what happened.”

“…How?”

“About your wariness? Or about the battle with the ‘Transcendent’ that took place here?”

Obviously both. He knew despite not hearing Luwellin’s words.

“Deduction. Both.”

“Um, what’s going on? Why suddenly?”

“Don’t worry. I have no intention of harming Melody or my friend’s sibling. Ah, the same goes for the beautiful snow leopard over there, and the three unconscious clansmen and the Sword Saint.”

Though the Sword Saint might think differently, he added. At this explanation, Luwellin realized he had clenched his fist.

“I suppose you’re starting to wonder what I want. Am I right?”

There was no answer. Melody, sensing something was amiss, slightly furrowed her brow, and Isla stood behind Luwellin, blinking her eyes inconspicuously.

Hostility rapidly built up, but the Blazing Duke remained composed. He sipped the stew and scratched his head.

“It’s a bit sad that you’re so wary of me when we’ve adventured together.”

“I’ve experienced many things that warrant such caution.”

“Then I should explain quickly. Melody’s sword has always been sharp.”

Clapping his hands once, the Blazing Duke spoke.

“First, I came here by the will of the Star.”

The Star, a Transcendent. Luwellin’s fist slightly unclenched, forming the shape of dragon claws.

“Now, now, let’s not be hasty and talk first. I think you might be misunderstanding about the Transcendent.”

“I believe I know enough.”

“Of course you do. The Star says so. However, there are a few important things I can teach you.”

A manner of speaking that wins people’s favor and a smooth attitude.

Yet he carried a flame so powerful it was intense.

The Blazing Duke was a dangerous being. He could be likened to a flame where those burning couldn’t even smell their own burning flesh.

That quiet flame spoke.

“First of all, the Star and I are not your enemies.”

“How can I believe that?”

“Melody. It’s truly heartbreaking, but I can’t appeal to our camaraderie, can I? And I suppose explaining that I lent you power when you needed it and allowed you to wield ‘Star’s Blade’ for a long time isn’t enough.”

Luwellin wasn’t surprised. He already knew it would have been impossible without the Star’s permission.

The Blazing Duke, seemingly unaware that Luwellin knew this much, widened his eyes briefly before smiling.

“Wow, they say you’re Lucilla’s sibling… you’ve inherited her insight too, it seems.”

Luwellin didn’t bother to point out that his sister’s ability wasn’t insight but “knowledge.”

Instead, he said:

“Might there not be something for you to gain from this?”

“Perhaps. But there’s one thing I’d like to tell you.”

Looking at the puzzled Luwellin, the man chosen by the Star said:

“Transcendents are not friends with each other. They may have all benefited together once, but they’re neither allies nor acquaintances.”

Licking the empty stew bowl, the man smiled at Luwellin, who was looking at him with disbelieving eyes.

“What do you call it?”

“The Great Ascension.”

“Luwellin?”

As Melody looked at him as if asking whether it was okay to speak of such things, Luwellin waved his hand dismissively.

“The Great Ascension. Many things rose at that time, and not many Transcendents could eat them.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“Do you know why it drew you and the one who took possession of that head here?”

He noticed despite it being hidden. Luwellin’s wariness heightened, but the Blazing Duke didn’t seem concerned.

Either because he trusted Luwellin, or because he was naive.

Perhaps both. He smiled.

“Because what they ate then was so delicious. That’s why they’re obsessed with tasting it again. Here in this land, Netel.”

Knowledge received from the Star. He licked his lips while looking at the empty bowl.

For some reason, Luwellin felt like he understood what the Blazing Duke was trying to say.

It was similar to how the God of Dreams had mistaken the Transcendent who had devoured the God of Night as the God of Night itself.

Luwellin voiced the possibility he had thought of.

“What about the Star?”

The Blazing Duke slightly raised the corner of his mouth. He put down the empty bowl and said:

“Only a very small fraction, beings with intense power, retained their sense of self even after being devoured. They imprinted consciousness onto beings that had only power and impulse. What you fought here was of that kind. But… the impulse and power were stronger.”

It wasn’t an answer. It was a statement that naturally deflected the question.

As if suggesting that the Star was not like that.

Meeting Luwellin’s gray eyes, which had become less wary, the avatar of the Star declared:

“The Star knows that part of its self is not its own. But despite that, as it defines itself as the being it once was, it has told me that it was once called this.”

The title that came from his lips was one Luwellin had heard a few times during his journey.

Mainly through the mouth of the God of Dreams.

King of the Gods.

God of Fire, Civilization, and Knowledge.

Father of the Steward.

“The God of Fire.”

As the God of Dreams stirred greatly within the cloak, Luwellin faced the great warrior chosen by the King of Gods with unwavering eyes.

“He has commanded me to find you to make amends for the failure of the Great Ascension.”

The phantom of a mighty defeated one striving to make amends for failure.