Chapter 294
Chapter Title: The Giant King's Advance
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294
Late at night.
Returning home, Leo shook his head at the sight of his party members, each one a complete mess.
“I have an idea of what happened… but I’ll ask anyway. What happened?”
Leo asked Karl, who seemed relatively unscathed.
Of course, Karl wasn’t his usual self either.
He was poring over a book like a model student.
“Ar spent the entire day listening to theory lessons from Ar-on.”
Karl pointed to Ar, who was sprawled out beside him, clutching his head as if it were about to explode, muttering to himself.
“So… the breath has to be at this timing… and the sound… Arghhhh!”
Ar scratched his head furiously, his eyes spinning. Karl tore his gaze away and pointed to Eiran and Berkkia.
“Over there…”
“Hey, let’s go.”
“Again? I can’t move anymore, I’m exhausted. Besides, you always beat me, Berkkia.”
“Quiet. Come on. And fight me.”
Berkkia, with a deadpan expression, was demanding another duel with Eiran.
She started to forcibly drag Eiran out of the house.
Leo grabbed Berkkia and pulled her away from Eiran.
Eiran quickly hid behind Leo.
“Why are you trying to fight someone who doesn’t want to?”
“I’m going to prove that I’m much stronger.”
“Y-You are much stronger, Berkkia! You’ve beaten me countless times today!”
“I’m not convinced!”
Berkkia shouted.
Leo nodded at her words.
“I see. It’s because your skills as a magic swordsman are pathetic compared to Eiran’s.”
Berkkia flinched and looked at Leo.
As a knight.
As a mage.
In each respective field, Berkkia was superior to Eiran.
She had been raised by Luna and Ar-on, who had poured everything they had into her.
Although she hadn’t learned Star Magic and couldn’t fully master Ar-on’s aura skills due to being a different race, her capabilities were bound to be superior to Eiran’s.
‘She’s the direct disciple of Luna and Ar-on, who could be called the pinnacles of magic and swordsmanship.’
Crucially, Berkkia was born with the blessing of the fairies.
Eiran only possessed a fragment of the fairies’ power.
Since Berkkia could use fairy magic itself, the difference in their abilities was naturally vast.
But when it came to the skills of a magic swordsman, which fused the abilities of both classes, Eiran was overwhelmingly superior.
Eiran’s techniques were ones that the current Berkkia would only perfect in the distant future.
In a way, it was no exaggeration to say that Eiran was the Berkkia of the future.
“Looks like you’ve been slacking on your magic swordsman training.”
“N-No! I’ve been working hard!”
‘She lies at the drop of a hat.’
Leo narrowed his eyes at the indignant Berkkia.
“Anyway! You! I heard you’re sixteen!”
Berkkia strode up to Leo, hands on her hips.
“What’s with your tone to an older sister! From now on, you’ll speak to me formally and politely like the others… Aaaaaaaah?!”
Leo gave Berkkia a noogie, grinding his knuckles into both of her temples.
On the verge of tears, Berkkia clung to Eiran for comfort.
“You really show no mercy, even to a historical figure, huh?”
Karl whispered, and Leo smirked.
He then pointed to Driana, who was sitting on her knees in a corner, looking completely spaced out.
“What’s with her?”
“Dweno told her to ditch art and just make weapons.”
“…”
“He was terrifying.”
As they approached Driana, she was muttering strange things. “I am trash. I apologize to you, Art,” and so on.
‘She must have shown him some weird piece she called art.’
Leo sighed as if he knew exactly what had happened without seeing it.
“Where’s Lunia?”
“Resting in her room. She actually had it the worst.”
“Why?”
“She swallowed Sir Dweno’s Essence of Flame.”
Leo’s eyes widened.
“She swallowed the Essence of Flame?”
“Yeah.”
The Essence of Flame.
Leo also possessed Dweno’s Essence of Flame.
Of course, his was different from Lunia’s.
What Leo had was Dweno’s flame itself.
What Lunia had was a part of that flame.
‘Sharing his flame means weakening his own.’
It would be one thing if he had a confirmed successor.
But considering the current era, sharing his Essence of Flame was a huge blow to Dweno himself.
“What are you looking at?”
“Me? The alchemy grimoire Sir Dweno gave me.”
‘He never even showed it to Luna.’
‘Aren’t you the kind of elf with a rotten enough personality to use my alchemy grimoire to create some strange potion?’
‘Stingy!’
‘I’ve never made a love potion, so go win your love with your own strength.’
‘That’s not what I was going to look for!’
Luna had shouted, her face flushed red.
‘What’s this about a love potion?’
‘It’s nothing.’
The moment Kyle appeared, Luna had scurried away.
‘What kind of trouble is she trying to cause now?’
‘How should I know? Luna is the most foolish elf I have ever seen.’
‘True.’
‘And you are the biggest idiot of a human I have ever seen.’
Recalling Dweno’s merciless words, Leo asked.
“Is there anything like a love potion in there?”
“There is.”
Leo let out a hollow laugh and fell into thought.
‘Dweno, what on earth are you thinking?’
He had unhesitatingly shared his Essence of Flame with a stranger and handed over an alchemy grimoire he had never even shown his comrades.
‘Why?’
He felt a sense of bewilderment.
*Clang—! Clang—!*
Late at night.
Dweno’s forge was burning bright.
Watching him, Ar-on wore a look of surprise.
“This is strange.”
“What is?”
“You usually paint or sculpt at night.”
*Clang—! Clang—!*
“So to see you hammering a weapon is quite a surprise.”
“I am an artist, but I also moonlight as a blacksmith.”
“Wait… isn’t blacksmithing your main job?”
“Ar-on. Do you know why I call that fool Kyle and that idiot Luna a fool and an idiot?”
“Why?”
“Because they dare to treat me as a blacksmith.”
Dweno asked in a gentle voice.
“Do you wish to join their ranks?”
“No.”
Dweno resumed his hammering.
*Clang—! Clang—!*
Stopping his work, Dweno plunged the red-hot blade into water.
*Tssssssss—!*
The sound of boiling water and a fierce cloud of steam erupted.
“Hmm, good as new.”
Dweno nodded, looking at Erquint’s blade, and spoke.
“Ar-on.”
“Yeah.”
“Are you still afraid of the future?”
“I am.”
Ar-on’s eyes darkened.
“You’re afraid too, aren’t you?”
“I am.”
Dweno smiled faintly.
“Still, don’t lose your courage.”
Dweno said as he placed a metal ore into the forge.
“For your courage is our hope.”
***
*Thud—! Thud—!*
The earth trembled.
The people of the land, stricken with terror, bowed before the colossal, awe-inspiring giant that was larger than a mountain.
“O, great Giant King. Why have you graced such a humble place with your presence?”
Gias looked down at the humans prostrating before him as if they were insects.
They were traitors who had betrayed the world and joined Tartaros.
Even now, Gias did not like them.
‘The Necro King treats them as useful pawns. But those who betray once will betray again.’
Of course, even if they were to betray them again, it wouldn't harm Tartaros.
But even so, Gias detested this kind of person.
“You are aware that I will soon attack Gardsrone.”
“Yes!”
“I need troops. I suppose I’ll have to make use of you lot.”
“U-Us? But Giant King, you possess a mighty legion. How could the likes of us possibly assist you!”
The man spoke in a terrified voice.
It was true that with the Giant King’s legion, these people would be of little help in attacking Gardsrone.
But the reason they said this was simple.
‘So they don’t want to die. How transparent.’
From their perspective, attacking Gardsrone was a suicide mission.
Gardsrone, the world’s final fortress.
To attack the iron-blooded fortress that had never once fallen was tantamount to death.
These were people who had betrayed the world to save their own lives.
They clearly wanted nothing to do with Gardsrone.
“Of course, the likes of you would be of no help.”
*Rumble—*
The Giant King raised his hand.
A subspace rift opened, and weapons poured out from it.
“However, with these weapons, forged by my own hand! Even you lot might be of some use.”
*Clatter—!*
Demonic Arms rained down before the traitors.
“Take them.”
The Giant King’s eyes glinted.
“And attack Gardsrone.”
At the Giant King’s command, the traitors scrambled to grab the weapons.
Joy spread across their faces.
In this era, Gias’s weapons were known as the strongest on earth.
The Giant King’s face twisted as he watched the traitors cheer.
Those weapons were not his own creations.
They were mere imitations of the weapons made by the Godly Blacksmith, Dweno.
‘Just you wait, Dweno. With weapons identical to the ones you created… I will bring you down!’
A murderous glint flashed across Gias’s face.
***
“How about taking a good rest for today?”
On the ninth day since arriving in the World of Heroes.
Leo went to Dweno and spoke calmly.
At his words, Dweno, puffing on his pipe, replied.
“You haven’t shown your face once, and now you suddenly appear to suggest a good rest? Hmm, you must be worried about your friends.”
“I’m not just talking about my friends.”
“…?”
“I’m saying the entire city should take a good rest.”
At that, Dweno stared intently at Leo and said.
“I’ll ask you directly. Who are you people?”
“I can’t answer that.”
“You’re not surprised.”
Dweno puffed on his pipe.
“It’s as if you know what I’ve noticed.”
Dweno closed his eyes.
He exhaled a cloud of smoke and then spoke.
“What’s coming?”
“The Giant King, Gias.”
“I see.”
Dweno’s eyes grew heavy.
With a grunt, Dweno rose to his feet.
“I’ll speak to Depeser. I’ll tell the city’s defenders to rest well, just for today.”
“…Thank you.”
“One more question.”
Dweno smiled faintly.
“Is the future filled with beauty?”
“…It might not be as much as you imagine. But it’s beautiful enough.”
“That’s a rewarding answer.”
Leo turned his back on the brightly smiling Dweno and gritted his teeth.
‘He probably suspected from the beginning that we might be from the future.’
Dweno was wise and perceptive.
He must have noticed something from the party’s actions, which subtly deviated from the common sense of this era.
That was why he revealed that he knew they were from the future.
But he couldn’t bring himself to tell Dweno that he was Kyle.
‘How could I say it?’
To his comrade who was striving toward his dream for the future.
That you will be defeated and killed by Erebos.
That you will never see the world’s salvation.
How could he say such a thing?
Leo thought it was enough to have conveyed that their efforts were not in vain.
***
That evening.
The party was relaxing at Kyle’s house.
What was different from usual was that Dweno and Ar-on had come to visit.
Karl and Driana were listening to Dweno talk about alchemy and blacksmithing techniques.
Berkkia had cornered Eiran and was listening to him explain how to handle fairy power.
“I-I see.”
As Eiran took notes and marveled, Berkkia wore a triumphant expression.
“This is all great, Eiran.”
“Yes.”
“But why do you keep treating me like an old lady?”
“I-I haven’t done that.”
“Your eyes are treating me like an old lady.”
Berkkia scowled.
Ar wanted to hear about Ar-on’s heroic deeds.
“So you wiped them all out, Sir Ar-on!”
“No, Kyle did that…”
“You gave Sir Kyle the courage to do it!”
“No… Kyle gave me the courage.”
Of course, with his Ar-on-centric worldview, he was excessively hyping up Ar-on.
Watching the scene, Leo muttered to himself.
‘What a strange sight.’
The present and the past, which should never have met, were enjoying a pleasant conversation.
Of course, to those of the present, the people of the past would be nothing more than a fleeting illusion.
But for Leo, both were reality.
‘If they can use this experience as a stepping stone to move toward the future, there’s nothing better.’
Thinking this, Leo glanced to his side.
“Why are you so down?”
Lunia, uncharacteristically, had her ears and shoulders slumped.
At Leo’s question, Lunia said.
“Karl, Driana, Eiran… even Ar. They’ve all taken a clear step forward these past few days.”
Lunia gritted her teeth.
“But I’m the only one who’s gained nothing.”
“Dweno’s Essence of Flame.”
“…Katariou told me to give up. He said I don’t have the talent.”
“It’s best not to listen too closely to that rude bird. He’ll just make you feel insecure.”
Despite Leo’s words, Lunia’s shoulders remained slumped.
“I… think I was getting arrogant. Just because I was doing well as Seirun’s representative… I was so cocky about being able to learn Lady Luna’s magic from you that I wasn’t thinking straight.”
Lunia wore a gloomy expression.
“Am I really worthy of inheriting Lady Luna’s magic?”
“That’s why you shouldn’t listen to that bird…”
As Leo sighed and tried to comfort Lunia, his face hardened as he saw the sudden change in atmosphere from Dweno and Ar-on.
‘Don’t tell me.’
[Objective: Stop the Giant King’s invasion.
Ensure the [Godly Blacksmith] and the [Brave Hero] survive.]
Seeing the suddenly updated objective, the party members shot to their feet.
“W-What’s wrong?”
Berkkia asked with a bewildered expression.
Leo’s face contorted.
“He’s here.”
*GROOOOOOOOOOOOOOAR!*
A bloodcurdling roar that pierced the entire city echoed out.