Final Chapter. Towards Julian

The White Night Knights.

The strongest knight order in the Empire, no, in all of Islend, is considered to be the White Night.

I stood right in front of the tent where the master of the White Night resided.

Wilhelm von Reinhardt.

The most renowned hero in the Empire, and the Margrave of the barren North.

And even among the numerous heroes protecting the Imperial Capital now, his name hadn’t faded in the slightest.

Rather, my maternal grandfather was the indomitable hero who was writing a new myth every day.

But even such a grandfather had been driven to the brink of death.

‘I probably would have been too late and he would have been defeated by Pedro.’

When Lilia left the Imperial Capital and arrived in the primeval forest, I heard from her.

The fact that she had taken out the ancient empire’s weapons stored in the Imperial Capital’s treasury and supplied them to the heroes gathered in the Imperial Capital.

Weapons that God would never allow to be used unless it was an era of apocalypse like now.

Even though it’s a weakened version of Siertia.

The weapon containing the power of that god could turn even ordinary masters into Apostle-class beings of Knoia.

However, even my grandfather, who used such a weapon.

Even the Lion Grand Duke, who had entered the Grand Master level at the same time as Gerard, could not defeat Pedro.

Therefore, I felt the weight of the great destiny given to me.

And entered my grandfather’s tent with my party.

“Yulian, you’ve come!”

And my grandfather, recognizing my appearance, shouted in a very welcoming voice.

Unlike the image of the peerless hero that had just popped into my head.

My grandfather spread his arms wide, very happy to greet me, his grandson, whom he was reuniting with after a long time.

He was a grandfather full of unchanging love for his grandson.

“Ku, kukhum. Your Majesty has come too. And Aylin, you too…”

But he quickly wore an embarrassed expression after seeing the two people who had followed me in.

“Wilhelm-nim. I’m glad you’re safe!”

“It’s thanks to Your Majesty’s grace. I’m relieved that Your Majesty is also safe, this foolish subject’s heart is at ease.”

And Lilia called my grandfather by a slightly unique title.

My grandfather is the Margrave of the Empire.

So he is a subject of Lilia, the Emperor of the Empire.

Lilia is someone who, in principle, has the status to speak informally to my grandfather.

But she called my grandfather’s name very affectionately.

‘Come to think of it, my grandfather and Lilia were very close.’

Even when my rascal-like behavior worsened due to Knoia’s curse.

During her time as a princess, Lilia sent affectionate letters to my grandfather every time, letting him know that her feelings for me hadn’t changed.

Of course, she had sent a warning letter when the school term was approaching.

But that was only due to the external pressure from the former Emperor, Lilia’s brother, who was a terrible ruler at the time.

When Lilia and I reunited at my mansion in the Imperial Capital, Lilia’s heart was the same.

‘So my grandfather can’t help but cherish Lilia.’

And the remaining member of the party also quickly greeted my grandfather.

“Head of the family! I’m so glad you’re safe!”

At those words, my grandfather wore a good-natured smile.

“Aylin, you’re safe too. I’m so glad. The great Jedin protected everyone.”

To be exact, Jedin and Yunir’s blessing had protected everyone.

Anyway, my grandfather was very happy to see Aylin too.

Of course, Aylin had been my exclusive maid since childhood.

‘My grandfather ordered that himself.’

So she is my longtime childhood friend.

And since her brilliance had been famous since she was young, and she had been directly handling many of the Margrave’s mansion’s affairs.

For my grandfather, it was as if three very welcome people were in one place.

My grandfather, unable to hide his joy at being reunited safely, smiled brightly.

Right then, my grandfather’s expression changed in an instant.

“But Yulian. Somehow, the atmosphere between the three of you is strange.”

It seemed my grandfather had finally noticed.

That the three people who came together, beyond their positions and statuses, were very close in distance.

My grandfather glanced back and forth between Lilia and Aylin.

In fact, it was not a flaw at all, and something to be happy about, that he was on good terms with Lilia, who was officially my fiancée.

But it was naturally strange that Aylin, a maid, was standing side by side with the other two.

‘No matter how much my grandfather cherishes Aylin.’

Later, if Aylin were to enter as my concubine, my grandfather would be the first to step forward and become her patron.

Nevertheless, as long as Lilia, the Emperor and my fiancée, was in this place.

It was very rude for Aylin to be so close to me and standing side by side with me.

Under Imperial law, it was an act that could demand very severe punishment.

My grandfather must have been concerned about that fact, so he was watching the two of them.

“Hmm. Still, since you’ve visited like this, I can’t just keep you standing…”

So I felt sorry for his restless appearance.

I smiled at my grandfather and said.

“Head of the family. There’s no need to worry.”

“Wo, worry…”

“I think I know what’s on your mind.”

I said, looking at the adjutants and servants who were trying to prepare tea.

“Could you please send the others out for a moment?”

“Hmm. I understand. I’ll do that for now.”

My grandfather was puzzled, but he dismissed everyone from the tent.

And I once again stood Lilia and Aylin next to me.

“Is there something you want to say?”

To my grandfather, who was making a truly curious expression.

I smiled brightly and said.

“Yes. These two people here. Both Lilia and Aylin are carrying my children.”

At those words, my grandfather froze in his seat.

---

My grandfather was frozen, unable to speak for a long time.

Then, after about five minutes had passed.

My grandfather’s expression crumpled.

No, that was clearly the face he made when he couldn’t suppress his emotions.

Suddenly, my grandfather started to cry loudly.

“Hic… sob… how on earth… no, how could… how could this happen… sob…”

There was no time to be flustered.

Once he started crying, my grandfather couldn’t stop and cried loudly.

“My daughter… Agnes… yes, your son… has grown up like this… sob… Father… Father has become a father… my daughter…”

Then my grandfather called out my mother’s name in a daze.

I was a little embarrassed.

But still, I could immediately understand my grandfather’s reaction.

My grandfather’s only child was my mother, Agnes.

That mother had lost her life at a very young age to save the world.

Leaving only her grandson, me, in the world.

‘So… my grandfather can’t control his emotions.’

That’s why my grandfather cherished me so much.

I hugged my grandfather, who was crying loudly, unable to stop his tears even for a moment.

And Lilia and Aylin also approached my grandfather and comforted him together.

Even so, my grandfather cried loudly for about 10 minutes.

“Sob… such precious Reinhardt blood… is being passed on to two people… to two people… it’s a joyous occasion… it’s truly a joyous occasion… sob…”

Still, after about five more minutes, my grandfather barely managed to compose himself.

Then, as if he felt affection for the two people who would become his granddaughters-in-law, he looked back and forth between the two and held my hand tightly.

“I can’t understand how this happened at all… but still, it’s a very joyous occasion. Oh, wait. But Yulian… surely you were calling Her Majesty informally, weren’t you? That’s a very great rudeness.”

Belatedly, my grandfather seemed to be concerned about that fact.

He was a Margrave full of loyalty, to the point that he remained a great sword guarding the Empire until the end, even though he could have broken away as an independent nation.

At those words from my grandfather, Lilia smiled brightly.

“Yulian-nim is someone who will stand on a much higher position than me! So rather, it is right for Yulian-nim to treat me informally!”

At those words, my grandfather made a blank expression as if he really couldn’t understand.

Soon, Lilia continued to speak calmly.

“You must have already heard from the Demon King’s General, Aitechia. That the Demon King’s army was able to cross the Alterun Mountains of the Demon Realm through the blessing of the World Tree.”

“That’s right. Your Majesty. The White Dragon of the Demon King’s army told us that at the Dawn Council. I remember.”

“But I couldn’t tell everyone the detailed circumstances yet. Explaining it in detail would be like a theology lecture.”

And Lilia told my grandfather even all the truths that Aitechia had omitted.

“So… so the current Yulian is an Apostle of the great Jedin and at the same time… the… the Apostle of the Goddess of Darkness?”

My grandfather, an Imperial citizen and a devout believer in Jedin, couldn’t bring himself to say Yunir’s name directly.

My grandfather knew very well that demons were not evil beings as they were known to the world.

But since humans and demons had been at odds since the Empire was created.

It was naturally difficult to get rid of that fixed idea at once.

When Lilia nodded, my grandfather continued to speak.

“Since Your Majesty, the great Emperor of the Empire and the Saintess of Jedin, says so, there must be no lies. To be an Apostle of two gods… that means you have already entered the realm of a demigod. Then it’s possible to explain why Yulian was in the form of a dragon… and why he was evenly matched against that Pedro.”

“That’s right.”

I answered my grandfather’s words instead of Lilia.

I hadn’t directly explained my realm to my grandfather yet.

As expected of my grandfather, who is called the strongest in the Empire, he seemed to have recognized my realm at once.

“Come to think of it, I was so flustered that I couldn’t properly ask about Yulian turning into a dragon. You have… the blood of that… the ruthless Demon King flowing through you, so I could understand it. But in truth, I’m also confused.”

It was a natural reaction.

In the first place, human-demon hybrids are rare.

It was difficult for that hybrid to survive biologically, and even if they did survive, it was even more impossible to survive socially.

‘And my grandfather’s reaction is probably the general reaction of the Imperial citizens.’

I gave my grandfather some time to think.

Also, I too. Through my grandfather’s reaction, I was able to recall the biggest task left to me for the last time.

“Head of the family. That’s why the future is important. The Holy War to stop the end. That is impossible unless the humans of the Empire and the demons of the Demon King’s Kingdom of Agriel become one.”

“Holy War… surely that word came up at the last meeting too. Then does Yulian already have a plan to bring them together?”

At those words, not only my grandfather but also Lilia and Aylin looked at me.

I nodded without hesitation.

“Yes. I’m thinking of holding a grand festival!”