Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: Duke!
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Like a wedge, the spear hurtles forward.
Crunch! The moment the demon's brain splits open with a sickening sound, I grip the spear again.
And hurl it once more.
I chase after the spear embedded in the ever-multiplying demon, following it like a tail.
The entire sequence is so swift and precise that to any onlooker, it wouldn't look like I'm throwing the spear—more like we're moving in tandem.
Krunch! Krunch! Krunch!
One fortunate thing: even Arhelak's fission has its limits.
The splitting continues through the legs that emerge outward, but since the surface area is small, it only produces two at a time.
It takes a mere 30 seconds for two to become four.
I'm killing those two demons nonstop within that window, halting their proliferation.
"Boss!"
Kim Yang's urgent cry rings out from behind. But I don't have the spare moment to turn my head. The damn thing's splitting again.
"What are you doing? I told you to take Deokgu and go!"
"But—"
"Now!"
Even with the seal broken, why hasn't the demon emerged fully?
Only one answer comes to mind.
It's wary of coming out here, too.
I guess it expected just Ducarion alone, but now there's me—this wildcard.
Splitting Demons are threatening, sure, but compared to other destructive demons, individual specimens are said to be relatively weak.
"I'll rip your limbs off and drag you around on a leash like the mongrel you are!"
"If you're too scared to come out, then shut your trap!"
In simple terms, it's aiming for a war of attrition.
Until I tire out, and it reaches four or more.
That's when the true face of the infinitely multiplying demon will reveal itself.
Should've worked out more.
I've been pretty consistent with exercise since running into Geum Tae-min at the club.
I'm definitely better off than back then, but as my breath grows ragged, regrets start creeping in.
"Hoo—!"
I take a deep breath.
White mist rises from my body like a veil—
The moment I tense up to move again.
"...?"
A foreign power—not mine—wraps around the hand gripping the spear.
A brilliant golden light, so radiant it evokes awe.
The same stuff that sealed the demon in that orb.
It wasn't my power.
The Tower's rules wouldn't allow it.
Deokgu?
No, not him.
Kim Deokgu, still on his knees, was staring at the light emanating from the spear with a shocked expression.
Then this must be—
* * *
What was Kim Deokgu's most regrettable moment?
He'd never seriously pondered it, so he couldn't answer.
Or rather, every moment was laced with regret, making it impossible to single one out.
Yet in the heat of survival, instinct always stirred those past regrets.
People shudder in pointless torment, always thinking, "I shouldn't have done that back then."
Pointless torment.
Indeed it was.
You can't change the past.
"Deokgu! Get up! Come on!"
No matter how much Kim Yang called from beside him, Kim Deokgu showed no sign of rising.
He just stared rigidly at Kim Juseon handling the demon alone.
"Lord Ducarion! Run, quick!"
Maria, who had come sobbing, frantically grabbed Kim Deokgu's arm.
Even a fallen hero—she didn't want to see him die here.
"......"
Kim Deokgu glanced at Maria huffing and puffing beside him. A frail girl who couldn't even support one of his thick arms.
She was the child he had saved.
Did he regret becoming a holy knight, Ducarion?
He thought he did.
Because of it, he lost his friends.
But now, the girl he saved from back then was weeping at his side.
To regret it would mean he wouldn't do it over—even if he could go back.
Which meant abandoning this child to die.
"Ah......"
He'd live the same life even if he returned.
So this was no longer regret.
"Why?"
Kim Deokgu questioned himself again.
Then why was he frozen here?
Why did his heart pound so fiercely, robbing him of the courage to step forward?
In that instant, a familiar golden light erupted from Kim Juseon.
Holy power.
Holy power pouring from Valkar's spear, aiding Kim Juseon.
Insight struck like lightning, leading to realization that made his body tremble.
The flesh of a human who overuses holy power dissolves into holy power itself.
So where does that holy power go?
"Ah—."
The answer was simple.
It was right there.
"It was... there all along?"
His eyes shook violently.
Holy power from the spear pierced the demon once more.
Just like in the distant past.
Like those days they fought together.
"You were there all this time?"
Kim Deokgu slowly rose, swallowing dryly. Tears streamed down, but he had no strength to wipe them.
He said it again.
In the heat of survival, instinct always stirred past regrets.
People shudder in pointless torment, always thinking, "I shouldn't have done that back then."
In this extreme situation.
Finally, Kim Deokgu could clearly face what his true regret was.
Shing—!
He drew the sword that had been planted in the ground.
Even after decades, it fit perfectly in his hand, welcoming its master.
"Lo-Lord Ducarion?"
"Deokgu?"
Two women called to him.
Both names were his.
"The hymn."
Golden holy power welled up.
Faded by time, covered in dust and decay, yet never losing its shine—it surged forth.
"Sing the hymn of triumph."
Holy knights always sang before battle.
The choir exalted humanity's greatness and splendor.
The song banished fear, uplifted the spirit, and granted the strength to advance.
"Huh?"
"Pardon?"
Kim Yang and Maria were bewildered, but one person understood perfectly.
Ziiing!
MR track flowed from the Bluetooth speaker.
He turned to see Seo Hajin gripping the mic tightly with both hands, tense as if in prayer.
It felt just like the days wielding holy power as Holy Knight Ducarion.
Like the days manifesting holy power watching idol stages.
All of it merged into one.
The hymn of triumph plays.
BOOM!
At that moment, the golden orb shatters, and Arhelak's true body bursts forth.
"Ducariiooon—!"
And he knew for certain.
He had never once feared the demon before him.
KABOOOM!
The demon's claw reaching for Deokgu is blocked.
Holy power erupts from Lumiel's shield embedded in the ground, forming a massive barrier.
"Long time no see, Lumiel."
It shone in response.
"Lumiieeel—!"
Arhelak bellows, its entire body beginning to split. Just as multiple offspring try to fission from its massive frame simultaneously—
BOOM!
A spear, launched with immense strength, embeds in Arhelak's throat.
Its body tilts, halting the split momentarily.
"Kek?! Valkaaar—!"
It strains to pull the spear from its neck, but the holy power holds firm.
The sacred sword, protected by its comrades, points to the heavens once more after decades.
Life is riddled with regrets.
Regret because it can't be undone.
The past because it can't be revisited.
But if.
A chance to change it were given.
What would you call that?
A miracle.
Nothing else fits.
Today, Kim Deokgu faced a miracle.
Ridiculously, the marriage agency's greeting echoed in his mind.
We find your miracle.
What was Kim Deokgu's regret?
Becoming a holy knight?
Dragging his friends into his dream?
Fighting to the end without giving up?
Harboring aspirations for that dream?
Failing to die with them?
None of it.
Erasing them one by one left just this one.
A broken farewell.
Unable to smile and say "don't worry" to the two departing souls.
Making them worry about him until their final moments.
He swings the sword gripped in his hand wide.
This was surely the farewell he couldn't give his friends that day.
The hymn's final notes.
With tears held back.
Reliving the memories.
Let me smile for you.
"Farewell, my friends."
"What? You wanna go hang out on the 3rd Floor?"
Lumiel sighed at Valkar grinning slyly.
Valkar was always like that.
A holy knight with a somewhat worldly streak.
He hated wearing armor because it was stuffy, and complained the spear was too heavy, always slinging it over his shoulder.
How did he even wield holy power?
"Why not? They say the 3rd Floor's got busty beauties in skimpy outfits dancing up a storm! What was it? Idols?"
"Hey! Think Duke's into that kinda stuff?"
"He's a guy! Right, Duke, you're going too?"
"I... probably shouldn't."
He scratched his cheek awkwardly, and Valkar threw an arm around him, shaking.
"I became a holy knight because of you! And you can't watch some busty idols for me?"
"Fine, fine, stop shaking me."
"Duke! You really going?"
What could he do?
With Valkar throwing a fit like this.
"Then I'm going too."
"Lumiel, why you?"
"They say the 3rd Floor's got tons of sweet pastries. Gonna stuff myself silly."
Valkar burst out laughing at Lumiel's words.
Before long, the three holy knights were planning what to do on the 3rd Floor.
"They've got this thing called games? Sword-swinging ones."
"We swing swords here—why swing 'em there?"
"It's more peaceful than here, apparently. That's the idea."
"Whoa... kinda looking forward to that."
Then Lumiel clapped and laughed.
"Let's make aliases too! Especially Ducarion—you're famous. Don't wanna build a bad rep goofing around there."
"Well, as holy knights, better not seem too worldly."
Ducarion nodded sheepishly.
His two hyped-up friends grinned and pondered.
"Gotta name 'em 3rd Floor style?"
"We're heading to this place called Seoul. Their naming's tricky for Ducarion, though..."
Valkar smirked after thinking.
"Your nickname's Duke, so how 'bout Deokgu?"
"...Sounds weird."
"Rolls off the tongue nice? Deokgu. Yeah, Deokgu. I'm for it!"
"It's my name—why're you voting? I hate it."
The two friends howled with laughter, slapping Ducarion's shoulders as he looked dumbfounded.
Seeing them crack up, a smile naturally spread across Ducarion's face.
"From now on, your name's Deokgu!"
"Sweet! After we retire as holy knights and rake in the cash?"
Then let's.
Head down to the 3rd Floor.
And have a blast.