Ch.351116. And So Everything (2)

“A-are you dead?”

As if becoming one with the tree, the god-general’s corpse and everything formed from it began to harden into wood all at once.

His armor and ornaments.

Even the mass of chains he had worn and shaken off.

Everything began to stiffen, turning into wood.

“Haah!”

Thud!

Kael collapsed to the ground, finally trying to feel relief, but instead coughed up blood continuously.

“Cough!”

“Hey! Are you okay?!”

“……”

After clearing his throat, Kael let out a small sigh.

“…You once said you were curious.”

“Huh? About what?”

“About which mother gave birth to me.”

“…Wasn’t it the First Mother?”

“It was the Second Mother.”

“Then….”

“……”

That seemed to be enough for him, as Kael didn’t bother to elaborate further.

And then.

“……”

Iriel, who never imagined the scabbard could cause such an absurd situation, was completely dumbfounded.

“Are you alright?”

“…Yes, brother.”

No, wait!

“And you… are you really okay, brother?”

“What if I’m not?”

Günter tilted his head quizzically.

-……”

And Lutesia watched the scene from a distance.

-So this is where it ends.

Crunch!

A massive black horse appeared beside her and nuzzled her hand.

The armor fragments also gathered around her.

They reassembled themselves as if someone were wearing them, forming a heavy suit of armor standing on the pitch-black earth.

-Let’s go, Father.

“But what about that ghost lady from earlier…?”

Looking around, that presence was nowhere to be found.

“……”

Only Günter vaguely perceived them leaving.

Perhaps it was possible precisely because it was him.

‘The Demon King.’

The final Demon King.

And my extinction or destruction is imminent…

“……”

Thinking about it carefully, was it a dream or an illusion?

At least Günter could somewhat deduce who that person was that he had seen there.

“So what do we do now?”

“……”

Kael responded to Eileen’s question with silence.

“Um….”

Iriel naturally had no good ideas either, so he unconsciously looked to Günter.

“That’s nothing to worry about.”

Günter smiled faintly, gazing up at the reddened sky.

“Before that… aren’t you curious?”

“Huh? About what?”

“About who your father was, what he did to accumulate such resentment from that being, making our lives so difficult.”

Aren’t you curious?

****

All the fruits that Kariel received from the World Tree were passed on intact to Günter.

More precisely, it would be correct to say they were returned to their original owner.

Günter realized who he was.

And why Lutesia could briefly manifest, if only as an illusion.

‘Human, is it.’

If Lutesia had been a soul imprisoned in the World Tree of the middle realm,

Günter was once a soul trapped in the Demon World Tree, crying out in anguish.

If one were to trace back to the root and foundation of that time and era, it would easily exceed thousands, even tens of thousands of years.

But now it all seems so distant.

Completely like someone else’s story by now.

One doesn’t consider a narrative read in a book as one’s own story, right?

That’s how distant and absurd the passage of time has been… leading to the present.

“I can’t show you everything, but I think I can show you fragments.”

Although the Demon World Tree has been shattered and torn, now becoming fragments and dust adorning the sky,

its aftermath hasn’t completely disappeared yet.

Günter let out a small sigh.

‘If I hadn’t walked this path.’

I would have had to struggle as a lowly being for tens of thousands of years.

Being able to come straight here was due to the elevated status of the one who was once a brother and sister… and now called Lutesia, or by some other name.

At the same time… Kariel.

Because he stubbornly kept the promise he had made.

As promised… no, beyond what was promised… he devoted himself to me.

‘I only asked to be freed, not to be taken care of to this extent.’

Even so, this can’t simply be called mere help.

The duty and mission he has now passed on is an incredibly heavy and lonely burden.

But it doesn’t matter.

Compared to not knowing one’s identity or origins, wandering aimlessly, soaking one’s ankles in the waters of pain and sin until finally, completely drenched, unable to breathe, slowly and eternally drowning without even knowing death…

This life is profoundly meaningful.

“……”

And Mother.

With memories of her remaining strong, I too can surely appreciate and savor this eternal time with gratitude.

“Follow me.”

For a brief moment, two suns rose under one sky, but now even that has normalized.

Thus, Günter, having become the single sun, exercised his rightful authority as the proper master of this land.

Space split open, and he stepped through to the other side.

“Hey, is that okay?”

“……”

At Eileen’s question, Kael watched him with somewhat complicated eyes before following.

“Hey! Answer me!”

“……”

Iriel also watched the scene with complicated feelings.

Of course, he too followed without hesitation.

“Why don’t these guys ever listen… sigh!”

Eileen sighed deeply and reluctantly followed them.

Eventually.

…They follow their father’s journey through the eyes of the Demon World Tree.

How he initially dedicated all his possibilities to the World Tree.

How he later returned to his homeland, the Empire, and continuously cursed himself and his surroundings with helplessness.

And then, by chance.

Or perhaps according to someone’s meticulous arrangement, the predetermined moment when he met the golden woman.

Thus, walking through thousands upon thousands of hells in his dreams.

Leaving the institution and collecting another arrangement from his ancient ancestor, the origin of his name.

He gradually moved forward.

Eventually.

Even at the moment when the sword he had been searching for rejected him.

They journeyed together, briefly yet extensively.

Although they couldn’t see or feel each other.

And finally.

When all arrangements collided, revealing that the sword he held was indeed the greatest arrangement meticulously crafted by the one he sought, Grandeus.

Even then, he did not cease to sacrifice himself appropriately.

The battle with the girl who possessed the Demon King’s power, called both Hero and Demon King.

If he had left everything unattended, the impact would have surely affected not only the Hero and the girl but also their surroundings.

But he, their father, suppressed even that.

And.

He resolutely saved them all.

Although his life, which had been close to terminal, awakened at that moment and gained some extra time,

he was still precarious, and continued to be so.

Moreover, the journey he had pursued, that wish…

It ultimately stemmed from resentment and vengeance.

“……”

The journey together ended there.

Because.

The subsequent journey was extremely limited, fragmentary, and abstract from the Demon World Tree’s perspective.

It was also around that time that the restrictions placed by the Demon World Tree were lifted.

Of course, that doesn’t mean he completely escaped those restrictions.

Still, if he had wanted to, Kariel could have sufficiently… forcibly sustained their lives from that point onward.

……”

A deathly silence continued for a long time.

Each embracing their own complex emotions, in that space that was pitch-black yet infinitely bright, they pondered for a long while.

“I have so many questions to ask Mom now.”

Eileen quietly spoke up.

“……”

Kael remained the same as always.

“Whew.”

Iriel realized anew that Mother, Aseratt, was even more… difficult to predict than expected.

More precisely… her inhumanity. The fact that it had been her nature since ancient times.

Nevertheless, what had transformed that into something somewhat positive was none other than his father.

“Oppressed as the hero’s son and hope, burdened all his life by things he couldn’t even remember, and his life endangered by a random curse.”

And then the savior he met turned out to be the Demon King of Wisdom, whom his parents had worked hard to defeat.

“…And even that Demon King encouraged him by throwing him into hell to survive on his own rather than offering encouragement.”

It must have been a complete living hell.

Eileen deliberately shared her impressions.

“But still… how should I put it.”

Why did he always try to do good for others rather than himself?

“Every moment was a test.”

Kael suddenly blurted out.

“Wasn’t it?”

“…A test? What test?”

“……”

Kael turned his gaze toward Iriel.

“…Sigh.”

Iriel let out a deep sigh.

“Don’t you have any thoughts, brother?”

“……”

Günter, thinking that Eileen and Iriel didn’t know the truth.

“I am not of your bloodline.”

“Huh?”

“…Brother?”

“If I were, I wouldn’t have been able to deliver the final blow to the god-general.”

Mistilteinn.

It’s extremely fatal to the god-general and his descendants.

“……”

Only Kael seemed to have some insight, or perhaps he already knew the truth, as he remained relatively calm.

“What? What are you saying?”

“I mean that I am neither Mother’s biological child, nor do I share your father’s blood, nor anything else.”

Iriel seemed quite shocked by this fact.

“That can’t be…”

“Well, is there anything else you’re curious about?”

When Günter asked, Eileen suspiciously inquired.

“…If I’m curious, can you tell me?”

“Yes. Depending on the case.”

What does that mean?

“Before that, what will happen to you?”

At Kael’s question, Günter shrugged.

“Fortunately or unfortunately, thanks to your father’s help… I’ve gained a reprieve.”

“A reprieve?”

“Yes. A reprieve to return once and say goodbye to Mother. And… yes. I might be able to keep the promise I made to you, if only briefly.”

“I see.”

As if that was enough, Kael said nothing more.

“…Again, they’re just talking about things only they understand.”

“Brother.”

“But it can’t be public. I’ve been vanquished by this fellow, after all.”

Iriel.

“I’ve prepared many things. As king, you’ll have much to do from now on.”

“……”

“Huh. You’re not saying you don’t want it, no matter what.”

“There’s too much I can only do from that position.”

And I have ambition too.

“If you had done well in that position, I would have harbored great resentment, but I probably would have tried to give up stoically.”

“……”

“Because of that, I never understood the worries and anguish you carried. I… somewhat regret that now.”

“You certainly know how to use that mouth of yours.”

Even if it wasn’t empty words, Günter could roughly guess it wasn’t completely sincere.

However, if such words aren’t uttered sincerely, that regret might trip him up in a different way later.

Cultivating one’s own heart and mind… is ultimately another virtue of a king who aims to go far and wide.

For the deterioration of reason and the collapse of the mind… would be the greatest vice for a king.

“If that gives you comfort, think of it that way. This doesn’t really require forgiveness or anything like that.”

From the beginning.

“I’ve only ever thought about myself and Mother. Everything else is just a result.”

“…Aren’t you ashamed in front of your younger brother?”

“Mother will surely guide him well.”

“……”

Günter’s blind faith in Aseratt… seemed impossible to follow.

“Just as I’ve trusted Mother, she has trusted us without doubt. To rebel against that would be disrespectful and unfilial. I don’t have the courage to commit that.”

“Enough. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

Iriel clicked his tongue.

Why am I the only one feeling down about this?

“Still, it seems I can’t return right away, so you go back first and relay the news to ease Mother’s worries.”

“Why can’t you come back?”

Eileen asked directly, seemingly puzzled.

To this, Günter.

“Having just become the king of the demon realm and the adversary of hell, I have much to do.”

“…?”

“…What?”

“Sigh.”

Only Kael let out a meaningless sigh.

The other two were so shocked that they couldn’t calm down for a while.

****

“Yes. I see.”

My faith in him was indeed not misplaced.

Aseratt calmly accepted the fact from Iriel’s report.

“Iriel. From today, you will act as crown prince and regent, administering my rule.”

“What? Already?!”

“…Such matters are about momentum. If we delay, we risk unnecessary opposition. It’s best to handle it quickly while the momentum is high.”

“Ah….”

Eventually.

“…What will you do?”

“Us?”

“……”

Eileen responded to Aseratt’s question.

Kael frowned at his sister’s thoughtless reaction, but.

“I… well, since he’s pitiful, I’ll stay here for a while and help him a bit more.”

“…Eileen.”

“What about you, Kael?”

“I’m going back. I’ve finished what I came to do.”

And.

“I’m going to introduce Günter to Adrian. We don’t have much time, so we need to move quickly.”

“When did you make such a promise?”

“……”

To this, Aseratt spoke with eyes that could be either relief or regret.

“Very well. If that’s the case, please take good care of that child.”

“Yes.”

“And… do you have no desire to enter the Imperial royal family?”

“……”

So you knew.

“Unless the entire bloodline disappears and the Empire falls into ruin, I will not interfere. Under no circumstances.”

“…I see.”

And so.

Kael began his journey back to the Seven Peaks Mountain Range.

Iriel, as crown prince, took over all royal duties like Günter before him, running state affairs according to his ministers’ advice and his own judgment.

…Eileen is said to have accompanied him for 20 years as Iriel’s guard knight.

Later she was awarded the title of Countess of Lutania, but.

Since this was a court title, it was essentially an honorary position responsible for managing internal affairs, a somewhat ambiguous position.

After Iriel formally succeeded to the throne, he had two wives over the years… but historically, although both received equal treatment as queens, they constantly had to be mindful of Eileen, the king’s guard knight and court countess.

Iriel was later called the Great King who established and consolidated the latter half of Lutania’s Millennial Kingdom.

He systematized centralized power, ensuring that only the central government managed military power, completely abolishing the private army system.

As a result, the authority of knights in Lutania gradually weakened.

But because the enhancement of individual nobles’ capabilities became emphasized, the professional consciousness and moral ethics of the old knights began to stand out.

Consequently, Lutania’s nobility had to constantly prove themselves as knights and capable, noble beings, creating a unique noble culture incomparable to any other country.

That’s why even in later eras when knights no longer personally roamed battlefields, knightly orders were still prominently used in Lutania, becoming the greatest honor for families alongside noble titles.

And.

Going back in time, when two new graves appeared in a corner of the Seven Peaks Mountain Range, two elderly men came down from there, one disappearing after seeing the other off.

The other, a red-haired man, was rumored to have headed eastward aimlessly for several years.

But the truth of this was never transmitted or spread anywhere in history, not even in minor anecdotes or songs.

And after many more years passed.

Until a black-haired boy who seemed to have captured the sun in his eyes from the east, and a beautiful white-haired girl with eyes like pure snow, headed westward to face the harsh blizzards and cold winds of the Seven Peaks Mountain Range.

……Many more years passed and continued to pass.