Ch.334Chapter 334: Epilogue – The Final Duel (2)

…suddenly?

That was the thought that crossed my mind when Fafnir suggested we spar.

As even Desire was driven away and the presence of this demon realm, established by her existence, was gradually fading…

Everything was coming to a smooth end.

It seemed quite out of the blue for him to suggest sparring with me instead of savoring that smoothness.

‘…Why so suddenly?’

I tried to calm my mind as I asked him why he was requesting a match with me, but…

[Will you do it? Or not?]

The voice of Fafnir echoing in my head wasn’t an answer to my question, but rather his usual attitude of pushing forward with whatever he wanted without much thought.

Honestly, I didn’t have to agree.

As I mentioned earlier, there were no more demon gods threatening this world.

There was no need to continue the rigorous training that had consumed even my sleeping hours to prepare for his threat.

And above all, though I was feeling better than before, fatigue still dominated every corner of my body, so a sparring match would only result in an embarrassing display.

For once, my reason and instinct, which usually offered conflicting opinions, reached a consensus and advised me not to accept Fafnir’s proposal.

Such instances were extremely rare, so without hesitation, I should have declined his offer and rested my tired body, but…

‘Let’s do it.’

Despite the rare agreement between my reason and instinct, I accepted Fafnir’s proposal without much deliberation.

I did so because there was something strange about his attitude as he made the suggestion that I couldn’t simply dismiss.

How should I put it? His request, while appearing normal on the surface…

It gave me the feeling that if I didn’t accept it now, I might never get another chance.

As I infused my energy into the dragon sword—which, unlike its master, boasted blades that remained intact even after fierce battles—and headed toward where Fafnir was…

‘I hope it’s just needless worry.’

I focused on controlling the strange anxiety rising in my mind.

But, as they say, ominous premonitions always come true.

When I arrived at this familiar place I had frequented for training, and saw Fafnir waiting for me…

“…What is this?”

The question escaped my lips involuntarily.

My ominous premonition wasn’t the worst-case scenario, but it was confirmed by Fafnir’s appearance, which was not what I had hoped to see.

In this fog-dense place that I always visited for our sparring matches…

There sat Fafnir as always, resting his chin on his hand in his elegant, dignified chair.

His crimson dragon armor, which completely covered his face and entire body, remained intact.

“You’re here.”

His voice greeting me was no different from usual—no, it was even more playful and humorous than usual.

But the condition of his body, which greeted me so casually, was visibly abnormal.

He was becoming transparent.

In this space covered with fog where everything was unclear, Fafnir’s body, which had always asserted a distinct presence like the only real thing here, was gradually becoming transparent before my eyes.

“What…!!”

As I expressed my shock, even greater than before…

“Oh? You mean this?”

The person in question examined his increasingly translucent body and made a light joke.

“It means my job is done, so it’s time for me to leave.”

He simply uttered what could be considered shocking words as if it were nothing.

#

Led by Fafnir’s sudden suggestion to spar when everything was winding down, I arrived at our usual place.

My surprise at seeing Fafnir’s body becoming transparent in our familiar meeting spot was short-lived.

“Kid. I’m not dying. Don’t be so shocked.”

Seeing my expression after hearing his casual remark about it being time to leave,

Fafnir dispelled my concern and surprise with a voice full of mischief, having clearly read my thoughts.

…He said that, but it was impossible not to worry when his body, which single-handedly maintained this strange space where matter and spirit intermingled, was in such a state.

“…Please explain.”

I feigned calmness as I asked him what was happening.

Even without his explanation, I had a general idea of the situation.

The time had come.

Fafnir, who had appeared before me when I mysteriously acquired the dragon sword and helped me develop the strength to defeat the great evil lurking in this land…

Now that Desire, the source of that evil, had vanished from this land, his task was complete, and he was leaving. That seemed to be the case.

It wasn’t difficult to understand, but I wanted to hear the accurate story from his own lips rather than such an abrupt statement.

I could have asked more specifically, but…

As I was lamenting my inability to articulate better due to unresolved fatigue and the shock of witnessing this unbelievable sight…

“Yes… where should I begin explaining?”

Sitting in his elegant chair where he always waited for me when I came to spar, Fafnir revealed his contemplative mood with a voice still tinged with playfulness.

Having experienced his character for the past three years—never hesitating to act or speak his mind—

This sight of Fafnir deliberating before speaking or acting felt extremely unfamiliar.

As I waited tensely for his words, visibly on edge even without a mirror…

“Before I explain…”

Fafnir’s carefully considered voice brushed past my ear.

His deep yet playful voice, which always resonated in my head in the real world, conveyed its atmosphere even more intensely when heard through my ears rather than in my mind.

This time, his voice carried more emotional resonance than any other time I had heard it.

“Let’s spar first, then I’ll tell you.”

He cleverly avoided a direct answer by changing the subject.

Normally, I would have become angry at Fafnir for such evasion.

But having sensed a strange atmosphere even before stepping into this place…

*Click*

I drew the dragon sword from my waist, its lock already released by my will.

“No changing the subject after we’re done.”

Instead of getting angry, I accepted Fafnir’s request for a sparring match.

I couldn’t read Fafnir’s expression since his helmet completely covered his face, but…

“Very good.”

As Fafnir expressed satisfaction with my answer, I almost had the idle thought that he might be smiling behind that helmet.

“If you win, I’ll explain in detail.”

As he rose from his chair with those leisurely words…

*Whoosh*

The flames gathering around his body with all their might prevented any more idle thoughts from forming in my mind.

If I win, he’ll explain in detail? I could barely count the times I’d managed to leave even a proper mark on his armor with my dragon sword, let alone win against him.

He has no intention of telling me anything.

Hearing that, my suppressed emotions began to surge again, and I was about to speak out, but…

“Come on! Let’s have a blazing good time!”

Fafnir’s charge, accompanied by his boisterous voice matching the flickering flames around his body, cut me off.

…I don’t know if I’ll win, but right now, it seems the only option is to go along with Fafnir’s temperament.

#

As always, my sparring with Fafnir proceeded as usual, regardless of the anomaly occurring with his body.

From the moment I accepted his proposal after arriving here.

*Whoosh*

The first exchange of our match—I’d lost count of how many we’d had over time—began as I blocked Fafnir’s fist with the flat of my blade, its trajectory impossible to track.

Though it came from an unexpected angle, I somehow managed to read and block it, but…

*Boom*

The ground cratered with a thunderous sound as I blocked his heavy punch.

“…!!”

I barely managed to suppress a groan, but failed to disperse the shock that rattled my entire body.

Even considering that physical harm here would heal automatically—whether my heart burst or my head exploded, it wouldn’t actually affect my life—

The power behind Fafnir’s first strike indicated a very serious match, contrary to his cheerful exclamation about having fun.

Damn it, I’m a battered patient here. No mercy at all, even for a practice-oriented match.

“Heh… as if I’d ever go easy on you, even knowing you’re injured.”

Fafnir, who had somehow hidden his presence in the fog, seemed to read my thoughts and teased me with a chuckle that echoed in my ears.

It almost felt like the serious atmosphere I’d encountered earlier was just an act to draw me in to help cool his blood after the fierce battle with Desire.

“Don’t get distracted!!”

Fafnir, apparently unwilling to let my thoughts wander, launched his next attack with a powerful shout.

His next attack, hidden in the fog that disrupted all my senses…

*Swish*

Was surprisingly a sharp hand strike aimed directly at my front.

A sharp energy gathered in his right hand as it flew toward me, powerful enough to pierce straight through my body—specifically, my heart.

Time seemed to flow normally, but as soon as I saw the red energy reminiscent of a sunset flickering on his hand, all sorts of thoughts about how to counter it flooded my mind.

Should I block it? Extending my dragon sword to block with the blade would be futile, as a fighter of Fafnir’s caliber would instantly twist his trajectory to pierce my heart.

Then should I deflect it? Even swinging an energy blade would only leave fleeting scratches on Fafnir’s crimson dragon armor, so that too would be difficult.

If neither works, there’s only one answer.

I hastily pulled my right foot back, my upper body following the movement of my right foot.

With delicate movements, even more precise than when I picked up sleeping Sizu…

*Swoosh*

Fafnir’s hand narrowly missed where my heart would have been, slightly tearing the collar of my uniform.

Though brief, I sensed that Fafnir, whose gaze followed my moving upper body, seemed quite impressed with me.

But now was not the time to be swayed by his gaze.

I needed to match Fafnir’s rhythm as he invited me to “have a good time,” so…

I packed as much energy as I could currently muster into the dragon sword in my right hand.

*Woong*

The sound produced by the energy I squeezed out with all my might was remarkably clear and pure for something created with such effort, maintaining its presence even in the disruptive fog.

*Flare*

In response to that energy, red flames rose from the blade of the dragon sword.

Not an unpleasant red reminiscent of blood,

But a warm, sunset-like red flame, very similar to what had gathered in Fafnir’s right hand moments ago when he tried to pierce my heart.

As I took in this sight…

“Here I come!!”

With this brief greeting…

*Whoosh*

I swung the dragon sword, wrapped in energy, down toward Fafnir’s head as he failed to recover from the opening created when he missed my heart.

For some time now, I had been curious about what face resided behind the helmet that covered his face during our sparring matches.

As a result, I had developed a habit of targeting his helmet whenever an opportunity arose.

But having often experienced Fafnir deliberately creating openings to lure me in before delivering a devastating counterattack…

Even as I swung my sword down, I subconsciously thought this attack wouldn’t work.

*Slash*

With a surprisingly clean cutting sound for metal slicing through metal…

“Oh…”

Fafnir’s brief exclamation of admiration…

And the exhilarating sensation transmitted through my right hand holding the dragon sword…

All indicated that my half-doubtful attack had succeeded.

*Clang*

As the helmet covering Fafnir’s face split in two and fell to the floor, my gaze turned to confirm the bare face of Fafnir, which I had never seen in our three years together.

And what my gaze captured was…

“This much reassures me that I can leave without worry.”

The face of a man who looked almost identical to me, casually praising my skill despite his helmet being split in two and scattered on the floor.