episode_0179

Ssss… .

The white sphere turned black.

“It’s so damn narrow.”

It was because Gernom was locked in Luke’s room.

《What is this?》

Who would call him the devil?

Kwajik-

Gernom broke the monitor and looked at it.

Of course, it wasn’t a real monitor.

Simply because it was a dimension Luke had built.

Shu-

It became normal as if nothing had happened.

《… Tsk.》

Gernom stopped screaming and jumped into bed.

thud!

《Oh my…! Why did you make it so hard?》

Gernom was shocked by the unexpected.

I held onto my waist and rolled around.

It looks like a bed, but it’s not a bed.

It’s just the bottom of the dimension.

Just now, Gernom had jumped onto the hard floor.

Of course, from Luke’s point of view, there was no reason to make a soft bed.

“Be quiet.”

《I thought you could shut my mouth by locking my body up… Kkaaah!!!》

As you press down on the sphere, Gernom’s scream bursts out.

The already small room became smaller and squeezed Gernom into it.

Tsk-

When the dimension was returned to its original state, only Gernom’s blood remained.

Of course, Gernom quickly regenerated and started to babble.

《Hey, you crazy bastard. I don’t know who the devil is-》

Crunch.

Make it with blood once again.

The dimensions were restored to their original state.

《… … 》

The regenerated Germ quietly shut up.

I’ve learned it well from two terrible experiences.

Even if you keep whining in a dimension where you can’t get out, it’s over if Luke crushes you.

If so, the method is simple.

The human lifespan is probably not even 100 years.

To an ancient being, 100 years is the time that passes in a single nap.

If we just wait until Luke dies…

“Mr. Bertine.”

… I thought it would work.

“Can you take care of this for me?”

Luke gave Bertain the dimension containing Gernom.

“Why are you giving me this ominous thing?”

“If I have it, it will be released after a few decades. Please keep supplying it with magic power, Bertain. And when you’re bored, you can crush it.”

《Hoo…!》

Bertain’s eyes lit up like Elin’s when she was kissed by Luke.

“You are the smartest sage in the world. I knew you would succeed.”

“Then why don’t you give me more advice?”

“How could this body do that when it doesn’t know the dimension you know?”

“That’s true, but… .”

Luke was convinced.

Even Gernom, who has a dimensional wandering habit, doesn’t know where Luke’s room is.

Berthain, who was trapped in the cave, had no way of knowing.

《Killkilkilkil…》

Bertain grabbed the sphere Luke handed him and laughed devilishly.

“How does it feel to be trapped?”

Gernom couldn’t answer.

Ugh-

It was because Bertain crushed the sphere while speaking.

《You have to give me time to answer, you crazy dragon!》

《Hmm… Looks like you haven’t come to your senses yet.》

Swish, crunch, crack.

How many times have I crushed the resurrected Gernom?

《If you just put magic into it, it will last forever… I’m not a sage for nothing. Ah.》

Bertain, who had obtained a toy that he really liked, looked at Luke with warm eyes.

“… You are too kind.”

《I guess this is enough to break the contract you made. You will need to recuperate for a while, but… if you need help recovering, come to me anytime. I will help you wholeheartedly.》

“, thank you.”

Luke was a little burdened.

It seems like only yesterday that I was being criticized for being stupid… .

Pfft, thud.

“Get up. Are you going to play dead?”

《Kuaaak…!》

While Bertain was happily hitting the sphere.

Jeokjeok-

The surrounding scenery was shattered.

The darkness disappears and the sunlight comes back.

A nightmare street that is completely broken.

“Ugh… My head… .”

“How did I end up here…?”

People who had been suffering from nightmares woke up one by one.

“Captain!”

The secret task force has arrived in the capital.

* * * * *

“The clones that were coming from the east were all annihilated at once.”

The reason the secret task force was able to come straight to the capital was simple.

Gernom was isolated in another dimension and was unable to exert his power on the continent.

“How did you clean up the mess?”

“The saintess told me to leave it to her.”

It appears that Seongguk has decided to take charge of organizing the Eastern Front.

“Hoo… … .”

Luke let out a deep sigh of relief.

It’s all over.

Gernom was also sealed.

Carl Chad also died.

In the meantime, the Bertain family was completely involved.

There is no longer a threat to Elin.

Luke can also recover by using Gernom’s soul…

All bad endings were avoided.

All that’s left is the day I’ll be with Elin.

Gulp.

When your legs give out and you feel like you’re about to collapse.

Hug.

Ellen supported Luke by wrapping her arms around his waist.

Oh, I was going to give you a kiss.

Luke looked at Elin’s face with a smirk.

“… Sir.”

“Your Majesty?”

The expression was serious.

Let’s follow Elin’s gaze.

“Hoo… Hoo… .”

With the sword stuck in Calchad’s heart.

Leo is seen gasping for breath.

One strange thing is.

“Ugh… gasp… .”

The breathing was getting more and more difficult.

“Captain?”

Elin wasn’t the only one who felt something strange.

“What’s wrong? Are you hurt badly?”

Tristin thought Leo had suffered a serious injury.

“Look over here… … .”

When I grabbed his shoulder to check his face.

Passus-

My shoulder collapsed.

Powder that scatters like grains of sand.

A sight that is simply incomprehensible.

“… … Captain?”

An earthquake occurred in Tristin’s pupils.

* * * * *

dump.

Leo just fell down.

“Captain!!!”

“… Don’t yell. My head is ringing.”

I didn’t lose my mind.

Leo looked at Tristin with dry eyes.

“What, what is this…? What is it all of a sudden? Why are you doing this?”

Tristin couldn’t even ask a proper question.

It was worth it.

Because the human body was crushed into dust.

“A price that surpasses human power.”

Leo, who was actually scattering, answered calmly.

“… What are you talking about? Tell me straight before I go crazy.”

Tristin bit her lip hard enough to draw blood.

“What is this… .”

“… … Captain?”

Cheryl and Watt also realized the seriousness of the situation.

They also were unaware of what was happening.

Between the frozen secret task forces.

Thud thud.

“This is the price you pay for borrowing the dragon’s power.”

The Emperor, awakened in human form, approached.

“The power of the dragon…?”

Tristin frowned.

I already knew that the emperor was a dragon.

Isn’t she also a member of the secret task force?

He also gave me a sword made from his own teeth.

Everyone also knew that Leo had created a secret special force independent from the imperial family.

“… … Did you know this would happen?”

But I didn’t know this.

I never imagined that Leo would be turned to dust.

“… … ”

The emperor nodded with a complicated expression.

“If you knew, why… … !”

“Do you think he did that because he liked me?”

“… … ”

Bertain said quietly.

Tristin kept her mouth shut.

I didn’t have the courage to shout in front of the awkward dragon.

《It would have been okay if I had just borrowed Boldred’s power. But… As you can see, this body hasn’t awakened yet?》

Berthain spread his huge wings.

“Leo made a contract with this body.”

“What…?”

The content was simple.

“If an emergency arises, I will summon this body in exchange for my existence.”

The price wasn’t simple.

Luke asked on behalf of those who did not understand.

“… Could you offer something like that?”

Even though I’ve walked with my soul.

I didn’t know I could dedicate my existence.

Then what happens?

《Everyone will forget.》

“… … Yes?”

《Returning to a state where the world never existed. That is what it means to disappear from existence. No mortal will remember Leo.》

“… … ”

Only then did Luke understand.

The sight of Gernom being happy even while being sealed.

And the reason why the Emperor and Berthain were determined to remember Leo.

* * * * *

No one opened their mouth.

A price I could never have imagined being forgotten by everyone.

It was a price that surpassed the level of ordinary death… no, even the destruction of the soul.

“It’s my choice.”

Leo broke the heavy silence with his own actions.

“Captain… … .”

Tristin looked down at Leo with blank eyes.

“I’m sorry.”

Leo apologized obediently.

“There was no choice but to break Bertain’s karma.”

But even if I went back in time, I would make the same choice.

Leo made a pledge when he took his next class.

Berthain’s dirty secrets and disgusting traditions.

One day, I will definitely purge and put an end to the evil deeds that have been passed down from my ancestors.

He left the family behind, leaving Elin behind.

I also enlisted in the secret task force.

I also borrowed power by offering my existence to the dragon.

It was solely to cut off Bertain’s karma.

And now.

Leo gave his all and achieved his goal.

“That, that doesn’t mean―!”

“Tristine. Can you listen to me?”

“… … ”

A few words, plain but sincere.

“Because I don’t have much time left.”

What can I say when he says things like that?

Buzz.

Tristin nodded, chewing her trembling lips.

“I’ll probably forget anyway, but I’d appreciate it if you all listened.”

Passus… .

Meanwhile, Leo was slowly falling apart.

“First of all… Luke.”

“… Please speak.”

Luke approached with a shocked face.

When Berthain was summoned.

I thought it would cost me a huge price.

But I didn’t know that it would be forgotten by everyone… .

“Thank you. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have been able to seal Gernom no matter what price I paid.”

“… … No.”

It’s the opposite.

Of course, Elin and Luke prepared the seal.

If Leo hadn’t bought time against Carlchad.

If I hadn’t summoned Berthain, I wouldn’t have been able to confine Gernom.

“I know this is something I don’t have to say, but… Please take good care of Elin. Since she wasn’t loved, I hope you’ll cherish her for the rest of her life.”

“I will definitely do that.”

Leo smiled broadly.

The smile of one who has achieved everything.

It was a comfortable face without a single regret.

“Tristine.”

Leo turned his head to Tristin.

Crispy-

By that time, the bridge was almost completely gone.

“Black…sob….”

Tristin was crying quietly.

“Don’t cry. Your pretty face will be ruined.”

“The captain… The captain… … !”

“I’m sorry. I knew how you felt, but I deliberately ignored you. I didn’t have the confidence to accept it.”

“… … !”

Tristin suddenly stopped.

Leo continued, wiping away his tears.

“I know it’s a bit late to be answering this, but… If I were to bring in a spouse, I’ve always thought you’d be a good choice.”

“Ugh… Ugh… !”

Tristin couldn’t hold back the screams any longer.

Our hearts were connected, but I wasn’t happy at all.

Because it is a future that can never come true.

Even I think I’ll forget all this.

I couldn’t control my emotions at all.

“Thank you. For liking a guy who doesn’t seem like this kind of person.”

“Why of all people… Why of all people… The captain… … .”

Tristin shed tears without stopping.

Cheryl patted Tristin on the back and asked.

“… You don’t have anything to say to us?”

“Of course, I’m grateful to you too. For following a guy like this as your leader. Now forget about a bad leader like me and start a new life… .”

“Are you crazy, Captain?!”

“I will never forget you, Captain!”

Cheryl and Watt shouted.

Leo smiled faintly at the murderous atmosphere.

“… I wish that were the case.”

Passus-

Now only the upper body remains.

It means there is not much time left.

“Finally, Elin.”

Leo turned his gaze to Elin.

Elin sat in front of Leo with complicated feelings.

Clearly, he was someone I hated so much.

I never wanted to see you again.

I wish you would just disappear from my life, because you hurt me so much.

“… say.”

But I didn’t want it to disappear like this.

I sacrificed everything I had to save the continent.

What if no one remembers?

This kind of thing… This kind of thing was not fair.

“I’ll listen to everything, so tell me quickly.”

All the old feelings are washed away.

“… Oppa.”

I said a title I thought I would never have to use again.

“… … !”

Leo’s eyes widened.

Soon the corners of his eyes gently curved.

“I thought I’d never hear it again.”

The unexpected title struck Leo’s heart.

The guilt I felt deepened.

“I won’t ask for forgiveness.”

“If you have a conscience, you shouldn’t do it.”

“Yes, but know one thing.”

Leo smiled softly.

It didn’t match the dry expression at all.

At the same time, it is the expression that suits Leo best.

“I’m sorry. I’m a bad brother.”

Passus-

A hero who saved the world has fallen.