Chapter 697
Chapter 697
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 697
Chapter Title: The Last Artists
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697.
A bright light illuminated the entire world.
It was as if the sun itself had risen.
The eyes of everyone on the battlefield turned toward the light.
At its center stood Leo.
The light that poured from the tip of Leo’s sword engulfed Gias.
Struck directly by Leo's unique magic, Zero, Gias’s eyes flew open.
‘My existence…!’
Gias’s very being was fading away.
This was not simply a physically powerful magic.
It was, quite literally, a power that negated evil.
Immense durability and overwhelming regenerative abilities were useless against it.
It was a magic that erased existence itself.
“Graaaaaaah!”
Gias pushed his dark magic to its absolute limit.
He had to resist this power, no matter what.
As Gias struggled.
“You won’t get away this time.”
Dweno leaped.
In that instant.
The hammer Dweno held grew to the size of Gias’s head.
“Hraaaaaaaaahp!”
Fwoosh-
Golden flames blazed to life.
Just as the massive hammer was about to crash down on his face.
Gias roared toward the heavens.
“To the great Erebos! Infinite glory! By his will! Victo—!”
CRUNCH-!
Dweno’s hammer blew Gias’s head clean off.
Fwoosh-!
Along with the light, Gias crumbled into dust and scattered.
[The Divine Blacksmith Dweno has survived.]
[Giant King Gias has been defeated.]
Ar’s eyes widened.
“Wow!”
She threw her hands in the air and jumped up and down on the spot.
Whoooooosh!
The Giant King’s legion, which had filled the battlefield, began to turn to dust and disappear.
However, the part of the Giant King’s army that had invaded from the present world did not vanish.
Even so, their numbers were not that great.
The warriors of Ivaldi shifted to the offensive, beginning to hunt down the remnants of the Giant King's legion.
“We won! We won! Black Rabbit!”
Ar, her face beaming, turned her head toward the ruins of the castle wall that stood like a tower.
Atop the wall, a staggering Leo lost his balance and fell.
“Aaaahhh!”
Startled, Ar rushed toward Leo and barely managed to catch him in her arms.
Thump-!
“Are you okay?!”
“How could I be? I’m out of mana.”
Leo let out a deep sigh.
Dweno, who had delivered the final blow to Gias, also plummeted from the sky.
Ar was about to run to catch him, but Enniha, who had already rushed over, succeeded in catching Dweno safely.
Seeing this, Ar let out a sigh of relief and spoke in an excited voice.
“Anyway, that was amazing! What kind of magic was that?!”
“It’s a new unique magic I created. It’s incomplete, though.”
It was not yet a perfect spell.
Back in his time as Kyle, he had been unable to land a decisive blow on Erebos, ending in a mere sealing.
Never forgetting that memory, he had continuously researched a magic to defeat Erebos, and only recently had he been able to manifest it.
But there was still a long way to go.
Meanwhile, the warriors of Ivaldi succeeded in wiping out the remnants of the legion.
“Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”
“We won!”
The warriors of Ivaldi let out joyous cheers.
Watching them, Leo muttered.
“We won.”
“Yeah, we won, Black Rabbit.”
“You can put me down now.”
“Huh? If you’re out of mana, shouldn’t you be resting comfortably? Besides, you’re pretty cute when you let me hold you like this.”
Ar’s blue eyes sparkled as she looked down at Leo.
Her white tail swished back and forth.
Leo, glaring askance at the white cat teasing him, reached out and grabbed the swaying tail tightly.
“Aack!”
“Who do you think you’re teasing?”
“Hey! The tail!”
Her face flushed, Ar shrieked as she barely managed to pull her tail free from Leo’s grasp.
Meanwhile, Dweno approached, supported by Enniha, and burst out laughing.
“What a sight you two are.”
“Look who’s talking.”
Leo, barely standing with Ar’s support, looked up at the sky.
Dweno also looked up at the sky.
Stars glittered in the predawn night.
“Enniha.”
“Yes?”
“There’s not much time left.”
“…”
Enniha gave a bitter smile.
“So let’s start the festival.”
Dweno grinned.
“As lavishly as possible.”
“…Okay.”
Enniha nodded and ran toward the warriors.
“Let’s have that drink as promised.”
“Alright.”
***
“Let’s raise a glass to victory!”
“It’s a festival!”
News of the Giant King’s defeat soon spread throughout the city.
Upon hearing the news, the residents emerged from their shelters with joyful faces.
They couldn’t contain their happiness.
Though it was late dawn, even the children came out to the public square to prepare for the festival.
In the midst of it all, Leo and Dweno were drinking together.
“Leo!”
A bright voice called out from a distance.
“You won!”
She had seen the Hero Record message about Gias’s defeat.
Coincidentally, that was the moment Arhi’s party had reached the core and succeeded in retrieving the Hero Record.
Once the objective was achieved, Arhi's party stopped the destruction of the Hero Record and returned immediately.
“We won. But you’re wearing some nice shoes.”
“Ah, these?”
Chelsea lifted one of her feet.
Showing off the shoes adorned with wing decorations, Chelsea smiled brightly.
“A gift from Lord Dweno!”
It wasn’t just Chelsea.
Luke had a sword.
Haviden had a spear.
Aina had wrist guards.
Iliana had light armor that enhanced mobility.
Eliza had earrings.
Karl held a bracelet, and Artian wore a necklace.
It wasn’t hard to guess who had made them.
“I made them in my spare time. They’re not perfect, but they’re decent enough.”
Dweno spoke nonchalantly, even though the items were of a quality that could be called divine artifacts.
“You managed to find the time.”
“Repairing the equipment itself wasn’t difficult.”
Indeed, with Dweno’s skill, he could have easily repaired the requested equipment and still had time to spare.
“Student Leo.”
Just then, Artian approached and carefully handed something over.
It was a scorched fragment of the Hero Record.
A small ember remained at the tip of the fragment.
It was burning.
It signified that the lifespan of this world was running short.
There was no telling when this world would meet its end.
As Leo accepted it and fell silent.
“You lot. Shouldn’t you raise a toast to victory?”
At Dweno’s words, Arhi’s party hesitated.
“Come on, everyone, have a drink!”
They couldn’t refuse a drink from the Great Hero.
Arhi’s party took their seats and raised their cups.
“Thank you! For fighting for us!”
“Not at all, we only did what we had to do,”
Artian said in a solemn voice.
Dweno stared intently at Artian.
“Is there… something on my face?”
“It’s nothing.”
With a grin, Dweno poured drinks for the other students as well.
The atmosphere warmed up.
Dweno laughed heartily, endlessly pouring drinks for the hero candidates.
Soon, those who had formed bonds gathered together and chatted excitedly.
“Lord Dweno!”
Driana spoke with a serious expression in front of Dweno.
“I have learned much once again! Ever since then, I have strived to become a smith who carries on your will!”
“Excellent. I have a gift for you as well.”
Dweno took out a small hammer.
It was the very weapon that had just blown off Gias’s head.
“This is Aeternus, the hammer I forged with all my might. It will be helpful both in battle and when you work as a smith.”
“Ah! I can make sculptures with this!”
“Sculptures…?”
“Yes! I’ve also been training as an artist!”
Seeing Driana’s eyes sparkle, Dweno nodded.
“Hmm, now that I think about it, there was something I’ve been wanting to say ever since I met you again.”
“What is it?”
Watching the scene, Leo said.
“Get up.”
“Huh? Why?”
Karl, who was drinking beside him, tilted his head.
“Get away.”
Leaving those words behind, Leo calmly sipped his drink.
Among the confused party, Karl, whose danger sense was exceptional, quickly fled.
“I thought I told you to quit art! Why don’t you listen to a word I say! Are you defying me! I’ll smash your head in!”
“Hiiieeeeek!”
Dweno swung Aeternus menacingly at Driana’s head.
“Quit art! Just quit! Stop blaspheming art!”
All sorts of things nearby were destroyed by Dweno’s hand, the fragments flying in every direction.
The party was caught in the commotion, screaming as they fled.
Leo calmly drank his alcohol, avoiding the fragments by sharply tilting his head or leaning back.
After the commotion died down.
Dweno pressed his temples and handed Aeternus to Driana.
Driana wore a gleeful expression.
With the party scattered,
only Leo, Dweno, and Enniha remained seated before the bonfire.
Just then.
“Um…”
Dit approached Leo.
Leo looked at Dit and said.
“You’re just like your father.”
“Pardon?”
“Just as a weapon your father made saved my unknown life, the weapons you’ve made have surely saved someone unknown on the battlefield.”
That was the way of the weapons made by Ivaldi’s craftsmen.
Even after Ivaldi fell, they flowed into Gardsrone.
They lent their strength to the long journey to save the world.
Though neither the creator nor the created weapon might leave their name in history.
The weapons forged in such a way would have each fulfilled their duty in their respective places.
Thus, unseen lines connected, ultimately leading to the salvation of the world.
‘As long as someone doesn’t stop moving forward, the will won’t be broken.’
“Be proud.”
At Leo’s words, Dit nodded with a flushed face.
“Yes!”
Leaving a vigorous reply, Dit departed.
“You’ve become quite talkative. It’s like watching Lisinas.”
“You think so?”
“You two resemble each other so well without even being married.”
Dweno chuckled and took a swig of his drink.
Leo, clicking his tongue at the sight, also downed the rest of his drink.
Then he dipped his cup into the oak barrel for more.
He had already drunk a tremendous amount and was quite drunk.
“We were married, as it turns out.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Me and Lisinas.”
“Pfft!”
Dweno spat out the drink he was drinking.
“What did you say?!”
“That damned lizard tricked me into marriage. I only found out recently myself.”
“Do you know what kind of feelings Lisinas held for you?”
“I know what that damned elf felt, too.”
“Surprising. Were you pretending not to know on purpose?”
“I found out after I was reincarnated.”
“A relief. You’re the same old blockhead.”
“You perverted old man.”
Leo grabbed Dweno by the throat.
But Dweno simply drank his alcohol nonchalantly.
Meanwhile.
“Ugh, I drank too much.”
Not far away, Karl shook his head from side to side.
He felt dizzy from drinking too much.
“Hmph. How foolish. Drinking past your limit.”
As Eliza said with a smirk, Karl raised his cup and declared.
“This is the time to drink!”
“Hear, hear!”
Kanea, who was next to him, raised her cup in response.
Clink! The two of them clinked their cups and drank.
Watching them, Eliza shook her head.
A moment later, Karl’s head drooped.
He had fallen asleep from the alcohol.
Kanea, who was staring at him, moved closer to Eliza.
Then she lifted Eliza slightly.
“…?”
“Heave-ho!”
Kanea pushed Eliza toward Karl’s arms.
Unintentionally falling into Karl’s embrace, Eliza’s mouth gaped open.
“You look good together.”
“What are you—!”
Eliza glared at the giggling Kanea, her face bright red.
“You’re not pushing him away, though?”
At Kanea’s words, Eliza scowled and pushed herself out of Karl’s embrace.
“Huh? What?”
Waking up, Karl looked around.
The festive mood continued.
And before long, the dim light of dawn arrived.
“By the way, Enniha.”
“Yes?”
Enniha, who had been laughing and talking with Dweno, tilted her head.
“That promise to be my model. Keep it.”
“Okay. I will.”
“Then take it off.”
“What is this crazy dwarf saying?!”
“If you’re a model, shouldn’t you be nude?”
“Don’t be ridiculous! Who thinks like that?”
“I learned it from you, though?”
“When did I ever say that!”
Enniha jabbed Dweno’s head with her elbow.
But Dweno didn’t even flinch.
‘A match made in heaven.’
Leo clicked his tongue.
Meanwhile, Enniha, having narrowly avoided becoming a nude model, sighed and asked.
“What kind of pose should I strike?”
“Draw a picture for me.”
“A picture?”
She tilted her head, but soon brought over a canvas and an easel and put on a serious expression.
Then, as if an idea struck her, she began to paint.
Dweno also sat before a canvas and easel and began to paint her form.
After concentrating on his painting for a moment, Dweno put a pipe in his mouth.
It was none other than Enniha’s pipe.
“Huh? Dweno? You don’t smoke, do you?”
“In the future, I do.”
As Leo remembered it, Dweno had a pipe in his mouth from their very first meeting.
And he held that same pipe until his final moment.
‘It was Enniha’s.’
Leo watched from Dweno’s side as the painting came to life.
‘There’s not enough time.’
Leo knew it intuitively.
There wasn’t enough time to finish the painting.
He looked at the fragment of the Hero Record in his hand.
It was burning faster.
Looking at the piece that had little left, Leo opened his mouth.
“Dweno.”
“If you’re about to say something stupid like using divine power to extend the time I’m allowed, I’ll punch you in the face right now.”
Dweno, who had read Ar-on’s memories through Brave, said firmly.
“Save that power.”
“…”
Leo closed his eyes.
“And my works of art are beauty itself from the moment I touch them. There’s no such thing as ‘complete’ or not.”
“…You’re right.”
“Isn’t it beautiful?”
The image of the elf, deep in thought as she painted on the canvas, was certainly beautiful.
“It’s beautiful.”
“See. As I said, comparing her to Luna would be rude.”
“Her personality, maybe, but I think Luna’s face is prettier.”
“You, a married man, hitting on another woman?”
“I told you, I was tricked. And I was just stating a fact.”
“You have no eye for these things.”
Dweno clicked his tongue as if in pity.
“Hey, how is it?”
Just then, Enniha, unable to wait any longer, asked.
“Want to see?”
Seeing Dweno’s grinning face, Enniha came over to his side.
“Wow.”
Enniha’s jaw dropped.
“Th-this is me?”
“Yes.”
“It’s beautiful. But don’t you think you’ve idealized it a bit too much?”
“My eye as an aesthetician is more certain than anyone’s. Enniha. You are this beautiful.”
Dweno smiled gently.
“It was surely thanks to the beauty you taught me that I was able to press on without breaking until the very end.”
“…”
“Thank you, Enniha.”
Fwooooosh-!
The fragment of the Hero Record burned away completely.
Watching it turn to black ash and scatter, Leo clenched his fist.
[The people of Ivaldi have been saved.]
[Dweno’s World: Prologue - Battle of Ivaldi has been cleared.]
The World of Heroes was cleared.
With that, a bright light enveloped the world.
Everyone closed their eyes.
The Hero Dungeon disappeared.
This space, which had existed on the border between the World of Heroes and reality, had now become reality.
As the blindfolded Leo took a deep breath.
“Ah.”
Gasps of astonishment were heard from all around.
Arhi’s party, including Leo, who had their eyes closed, hurriedly opened them.
The people of Ivaldi were looking to the east.
“…The sun.”
The dawn was breaking.
A brilliant light shone upon the people of Ivaldi.
Those who were seeing the sun for the first time in their lives.
Those who had regained this sight after decades.
Everyone looked upon the saved world with moved expressions.
Enniha, who had been gazing at the sun, trudged over and brought her canvas.
“I did a good job, right?”
She showed the painting to Dweno and smiled brightly.
Taking the painting, Dweno muttered.
“You did a good job.”
“Right?”
“Though I did better.”
At his words, Enniha burst out laughing.
And she said.
“I’ll go on ahead.”
Leaving the same words she had once left for Dweno, Enniha dissolved into particles of light.
It wasn’t just Enniha.
All the people of Ivaldi became light and disappeared.
Watching the scene in silence, Dweno handed his painting to Leo and opened his mouth.
“Thank…”
Dweno stopped himself.
His time was over, but Leo’s time was still going on.
It was still too early to offer thanks.
After a moment of silence, Dweno spoke.
“I’m counting on you.”
To his comrade who still had to go further.
The one who had been the reliable pillar of the party conveyed a single phrase filled with apology, gratitude, and encouragement to those left behind.
Receiving the painting, Leo nodded.
“Leave it to me.”
At those words, Dweno smiled and disappeared into particles of light.
“…”
As everyone stood in silence, Leo looked at the paintings.
‘I want to leave them behind.’
Dweno had wanted his works of art to be passed down to future generations.
Normally, this painting left by Dweno should have disappeared.
But.
[Clear Reward: Paintings]
At Leo’s wish, the clear reward was decided.
Letting out a sigh of relief, Leo carefully placed Enniha’s painting next to Dweno’s.
In the pouring light of dawn.
The image of Enniha painting and the image of Dweno painting were displayed side by side.
Arhi’s party gathered around.
“Wow, they’re beautiful.”
“They’re incredible paintings.”
As the party burst into admiration, Leo opened his mouth.
“Of course they are.”
Because.
“They are the paintings drawn by the last artists who lived in this era.”