Chapter 54: Perfect Victory (2)

Sion had spoken confidently, as if she might cause trouble at any moment, but that didn’t mean she was rushing things.

She was naturally cautious and methodical—someone who would knock on an adamantine bridge just to make sure it was safe before crossing.

Especially in the case of Beryl, if her plan backfired, the trust she had built could crumble completely. If she, believed to be dead, reappeared later, the resulting chaos would be unimaginable.

That’s why Sion carefully selected the commands he implanted in Beryl’s mind:

[Never get involved with Anatolia, Espera, or the Salem Royal Family again.]

[No more espionage.]

[If anyone asks why she left Anatolia, make up a plausible excuse.]

And to ensure Beryl accepted all this without suspicion, Sion even left a letter under the name of “Sion”:

[I erased your memories because of what happened, and you nearly caused a disaster by ignoring my warning and coming to Anatolia. I’ve saved you this time, but don’t come back.]

From Beryl’s perspective, the last thing she remembered was being struck by a mysterious poison arrow in the heart.

So if Sion took responsibility, there would be no reason for her to doubt it. Of course, there was always a slim chance she’d grow suspicious, so Sion added another command: [Trust Hero Sion completely].

Using the Eye of the Dominator artifact, she spent 20 to 30 minutes carefully implanting these commands.

“Alright, done! Just need to use Greater Teleport before she wakes up!”

After modifying Beryl to her liking, Sion stretched out, satisfied.

She had thought of every possible complication, so barring a miracle, they would never meet again.

“I would’ve changed her appearance using Perfect Polymorph, but I don’t have enough magic left for that…, but honestly, this whole situation was like getting hit by lightning—it shouldn’t have even happened.

There’s no way something like this will happen twice in a row.”

-“You know, they call that tempting fate.”

Exia remarked dryly.

“Quiet.”

Sion snapped back, irritated. “Always ruining the moment.”

Ignoring the talking sword’s quip, Sion shifted her focus to the unconscious survivors.

Roughly 40 to 50 prisoners were still alive, though more than 80% had been reduced to ashes.

With all the Anatolian girls knocked out, Sion had to transport the survivors herself. Not that it was a problem—in fact, she preferred it this way.

“Mass Teleport.”

With a snap of her fingers, the scenery around them shifted in an instant.

They were no longer in the soot-filled underground, but atop a mountain peak under the open sky. Sion, the unconscious captives, and the girls had all been transported together.

It was a mass teleportation spell, the kind Sion couldn’t use when anyone was watching.

“Now we just wait for the blood bombs inside to go off…”

Sion plopped down on a nearby rock with a view, waiting for the explosion.

She had set the bombs with a conditional trigger that would activate a few minutes after her escape. In about five to ten minutes, the signal would come.

With nothing better to do, Sion decided to relax and enjoy the show while waiting for the others to wake up.

As she settled in, Exia hesitantly spoke up.

-“Why?”

“Hmm?”

-“I know it looks like everything’s wrapping up….but can I ask you something?”

Sion raised an eyebrow.

“That’s an odd way to start a conversation. Since when have you ever been shy about speaking your mind? Out with it.”

Exia hesitated a moment longer, clearly unsure how to approach the topic. After a brief pause, she sighed and asked her question.

-“We met the Demon King’s army today—the real Demon King’s army. Doesn’t that… make you feel anything?”

Sion’s face remained calm, her expression neutral.

“Feel what?” he asked, as if genuinely confused. “Do you expect me to feel guilty for what they’ve done?”

-“No, no! That’s not what I mean….”

Exia hurriedly explained.

Exia’s voice wavered, clearly unsettled by the delicate subject she was broaching.

Sion, on the other hand, seemed completely unbothered, leaning back casually on the rock, watching the surrounding scene of survivors and unconscious captives.

“Then what?” Sion asked flatly, raising an eyebrow. “Out with it, Exia. You’re rarely this hesitant, so it must be something worth my time.”

Exia hesitated again, her usual confidence faltering as she glanced around before speaking. Finally, she sighed deeply, as if steeling herself for what she was about to say.

-“It’s just… this whole thing with the Demon King’s army… we’ve actually come across them now. The real Demon King’s army, not some imitators.”

“Uh-huh.”

-“I mean…”

Exia fumbled for the right words. “Doesn’t it make you think… about… what’s coming? What they’re planning?”

“You mean the resumption of the invasion?”

Exia nodded, a concerned tone creeping into her voice.

-“Yes. And, considering how things unfolded here, don’t you think it might be something bigger than we expected? It’s not just some random remnants—they’re organized, they’re active, and it’s all led by Igor.”

Sion’s face hardened for a moment at the mention of Igor, the mastermind behind so many brutal strategies during the last invasion.

-“I thought we’d left that part of the past behind…, but seeing them again, it’s clear they’re preparing for something.

They’re not done yet. So, I guess I’m asking… does any of this change how you feel? I know you’re the type to focus on the here and now, but…”

Sion tilted her head slightly, the weight of Exia’s words hanging in the air. After a brief pause, she responded, her tone more measured.

“You want to know if I feel any different after facing the actual remnants of the Demon King’s army?”

Exia nodded silently.

Sion sighed and sat up straight, looking out over the mountainside.

“Look, Exia. I know you’re concerned.

But the truth is, this encounter doesn’t really change much for me. I’ve known for a long time that Igor and what’s left of the army were still out there, scheming. But I’ve got my own priorities now.”

Exia blinked.

-“Your own priorities?”

Sion nodded.

“I made a choice when I became the ‘Hero.’ It wasn’t by accident, and it wasn’t by someone else’s design.

I chose to play this role for my own reasons. What the Demon King’s army does now, or how they plan to continue their invasion, doesn’t concern me—unless they directly threaten what I’ve set out to protect.”

Exia frowned.

-“So… you’re just going to ignore it?”

Sion’s gaze sharpened.

“Not ignore it. But I’m not going to let them dictate my actions. I have my own path to walk.

If they cross it, then I’ll deal with them. But until then, I’m not going to let their resurgence pull me back into old battles.”

Exia stayed silent for a moment, digesting Sion’s words.

“I see… but, what if they do cross that path? What if the new invasion comes and we have no choice but to confront it?”

Sion smirked.

“Then, I’ll do what I do best: win.”

Exia couldn’t help but laugh softly, the tension in her shoulders easing a little.

-“I should’ve expected that answer.”

“Of course,” Sion said with a grin. “I’m not one to lose, Exia. You should know that by now.”

They both fell silent for a moment, watching the distant horizon as they waited for the explosion to signal the end of the blood bombs and the close of another chapter in their lives.

Exia, still struggling to process Sion’s dismissive response, pressed on hesitantly.

“But don’t you ever want to go back to being the Demon King? Doesn’t the idea cross your mind at all?”

“Huh?”

Sion frowned, clearly taken aback by the question.

“The Holy Sword shouldn’t be asking such things… unless you want me to return to that role?” Sion’s tone turned teasing, though her eyes narrowed suspiciously.

-“!!?! No! Of course not! I’m not crazy!”

“Then why ask?”

-“Because I can’t help but be worried!”

Exia exclaimed, glancing nervously in the direction where Tartarus had retreated.

“You’re different from us—your origins are with the demons. I just… couldn’t shake the thought that maybe you’d start missing that life… and if you did, we wouldn’t be able to stop you if you decided to go back…”

Sion’s face softened with understanding, and she let out a small chuckle.

“Ah, I see now. You’re worried I might abandon humanity and rejoin the demons. That I might ‘return’ to my roots.”

Exia nodded, her discomfort evident.

After all, Sion wasn’t just any ally—if she chose to turn her back on humanity, the consequences would be catastrophic.

Sion had the power and influence to reshape the entire world if she wished, and without someone like Riel to balance her out, the stakes were terrifying.

Sion shook her head, amused.

“You’re really worried about that? You’ve all trusted me this long, and yet you still think I’ll switch sides?”

-“What? You’ve said that dozens of times?”

“I’ve told you many times already: Demons don’t have ‘bonds of camaraderie.’ It’s not in our nature.”

 Sion said, clicking her tongue and crossing her arms again.

“Humans tend to view us demons through your own lens, thinking we’re capable of attachments and loyalty like you. But that’s not how we work.

Demons form positive interactions with others only when there’s something to be gained. Without that benefit, there’s no reason to cling to any sense of kinship or loyalty.

It’s the same reason you, Exia, aren’t out there rallying for ‘Sword Rights’ or trying to make connections with other enchanted weapons. You have no connection to them, so why bother?”

Exia hesitated, unsure how to respond.

-“But… this time there’s a clear benefit! You could conquer the world! You’d have an army as powerful as an entire continent at your disposal just by declaring yourself the Demon King again! Knowing how much you love efficiency, I just can’t see you passing up that kind of opportunity…”

“Why would I need to conquer the world?” Sion shot back, her tone bored.

-“Huh?”

“I’m asking—why would I need to conquer the world? For what reason?”

Sion continued, now with a slightly exasperated expression.

“If this were the old me, maybe. But now? I’m human.

I don’t need to fill Elpidion with mana to function. So why should I go to the trouble of conquering the continent? What’s in it for me?”

Exia found herself speechless, her mind spinning as she tried to grasp Sion’s point.

She had never thought about it that way. After all, she was a sword, meant to serve, not rule. The concept of ambition or conquest had never been something she personally desired—it was simply the goal of whoever wielded her.

Most rulers who embarked on conquests didn’t necessarily have deep, personal reasons. They often did it because they could, because it was there to be taken.

But Sion was different—those kinds of desires had no hold over him.

“You see…, I have no interest in leading the Demon King’s army or subjugating the continent.

I don’t feel some great connection to my demon kin, and I’m not obsessed with power. I’m living a life now, a human life, for my own reasons. Why should I throw all of that away for something that doesn’t matter to me anymore?”

Exia nodded slowly, realizing that Sion was truly different from the ambitious conquerors of the past.

There was no burning desire for domination or control in her—Sion had found her own path, one that didn’t require returning to the role of the Demon King.

-“I… I understand,” Exia finally said.

“You’ve really left that part of your life behind, haven’t you?”

“Exactly,”

Sion said with a small smile.

“I don’t need to be the Demon King anymore. What’s more, it’s not my responsibility to fix the mess they’ve made for themselves.

They can keep scheming, but I’m not going to waste my time on them unless they make the mistake of getting in my way.”

Exia let out a relieved sigh.

The lingering worry that Sion might fall back into her old ways was finally put to rest.

Sion’s unexpected statement left Exia reeling.

-“You’re staying on the human side… because of me?”

“Well, you and Mana, to be precise.”

Sion clarified with a faint smile.

 “Despite everything, the time I’ve spent with you two has been the brightest period of my life. As long as my old comrades are around, I won’t turn my back on humanity.”

Exia’s heart raced for a moment, her mind swirling with confusion.

Wait… was that really the reason? Because of us?*

She blushed slightly, unsure how to respond. Before she could gather her thoughts, Sion continued.

“To be clear, it’s not just sentiment. It’s a simple fact—because of you and Mana, I have no desire to abandon humanity. That’s all.”

“Oh… I see…”

Exia sighed, a little embarrassed by how flustered she had gotten. She had almost misunderstood the situation entirely.

She quickly composed herself, pretending to clear her throat, and tried to lighten the mood with a more upbeat tone.

-“Well, that’s a relief! Mana and I will probably outlive you by a long shot, so you’ll be stuck with us for quite a while! Let’s keep working together to deal with any troublemakers who refuse to adapt to this world!”

But Sion raised an eyebrow, confused.

“What do you mean by that?”

-“Uh, I mean, isn’t that what we were talking about? Fighting against the Demon King’s army as heroes, protecting humanity…”

Sion shook her head, looking almost amused.

“Nope, that’s not what I meant at all.”

-“?????”

Exia’s expression was one of complete bewilderment.

Sion shrugged nonchalantly.

“Why would I go out of my way to hunt down and wipe out the remnants of the Demon King’s army? They’ve survived on their own for 500 years—why not just let them continue doing their thing?”

-“But… but they’re melting humans into molten metal to use as an energy source!”

Sion, still unfazed, replied calmly,

“So? They’re doing what they need to survive in a hostile environment. Don’t you humans raise livestock for food? Killing to use something as a resource isn’t inherently wrong, even by the laws of nature.”

Exia’s mind scrambled to process the comparison.

-“But… but humans are sentient beings! They begged for their lives! Isn’t that different from livestock?”

While Exia’s thoughts became tangled in moral confusion, Sion crossed her arms and explained further.

“Look, I never had any intention of chasing down and exterminating the Demon King’s army. Just because I don’t feel any attachment to them doesn’t mean I should go out of my way to destroy them.

 As long as they don’t directly oppose me, I have no reason to interfere with their survival. It’s the least I can do, as someone who once led them.”

Sion’s words were calm, almost pragmatic, but they carried an undeniable finality.

“I don’t see the point in hunting down old allies who are just trying to survive, even if we no longer share the same goals.”

Exia, still overwhelmed by the ethical whirlwind in her mind, couldn’t help but feel a strange mix of relief and frustration.

Sion had no intention of becoming a ruthless hero or villain.

She was simply navigating the world by her own set of principles, ones that didn’t always align with traditional views of good and evil.

-“I… guess that makes sense, in a way.”

Exia finally muttered, though she wasn’t entirely sure if she believed it herself.

“Well… the definition of ‘letting them live their own lives’ is the real issue here…”

But trying to convince Sion seemed impossible—her resolve was too firm.

She was never one to listen to reason if it didn’t suit her.

 As Exia silently let out a sigh of frustration, Sion suddenly lifted her head.

“Hmm, it’s starting.”

-“What? What’s—”

Exia’s question was drowned out by the deafening roar that echoed around them in the next moment.

A massive shockwave swept through the forest, shaking the area where the group stood.

Tartarus was, at its core, an underground base.

So, even if an explosion happened inside, the heat wouldn’t necessarily affect the surface.

However, when a space spanning hundreds of meters in depth collapses all at once, the surface is bound to experience something.

And the result was a sinkhole.

A massive sinkhole, as if a god had pressed a finger into the earth, opened up right before them.

-“Wow…”

Exia couldn’t help but gasp in awe as she watched the scene from the cliff.

From a distance, the view was truly breathtaking. Earth tumbled down into the gaping hole like water draining into a funnel, while towering trees leaned and toppled, birds fleeing into the sky to escape the disaster.

It was a sight unlike anything she had seen before, even when compared to the destruction caused by spells like Meteor or Earthquake.

The great sinkhole marked the final collapse of the Demon King’s army’s largest supply base, which had lasted for 500 years.

“Hohoho… hahahahaha…”

Sion’s lips twisted into an uncontrollable grin as she watched the scene unfold.

Despite the many unexpected complications along the way, everything had worked out in the end.

She had succeeded in eliminating Beryl, acquired a valuable artifact, rescued her descendants from captivity, and even brought dozens of prisoners back with them.

On top of that, she had finally been able to test a new spell she hadn’t used in 12 years.

And throughout the entire ordeal, Sion had suffered zero losses.

Isabella, Lancia, Therese, and Marianne were all safely retrieved, and she herself had not sustained a single injury.

All witnesses were eliminated, and the base destroyed—leaving the Demon King’s army with no evidence to trace the incident back to Sion.

In other words—

“A perfect victory for me! AHAHAHAHA!!!”

As the ground collapsed in real-time, Sion erupted into uncontrollable laughter.

With the deafening roar of the sinking mountain range behind her, Sion’s laughter echoed through the air, resonating in harmony with the crashing landscape, forming a triumphant symphony…