Chapter 461: Epilogue, New Days (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 461: Epilogue, New Days (5)
They moved to a different spot.
As they strolled through the garden, Kevin spoke up, his voice cautious. "...My Lord. May I ask you a question?"
"Speak."
"Three years ago, you defeated the Demon King, achieving a historic feat that everyone deemed impossible. Today, no one dares challenge your authority. Your past accomplishments speak for themselves, and the annual tournament proves that those legends are not mere exaggerations. Yet... why do you still push yourself so hard? Even your subordinates have settled into this era of peace. Why do you continue to live as fiercely as you did three years ago?"
Kevin had known the moment he laid eyes on Roman Dmitry.
That fiercely burning gaze, the face drenched in sweat, and a level of training so profound he couldn't even begin to fathom its depths. Roman had grown even stronger.
Even three years ago, Kevin believed Roman Dmitry existed high above the heavens. Yet, through endless training, Roman was still carving out new realms of power. To Kevin, this was incomprehensible. It wasn't that he didn't understand his Lord's nature, but the world was simply too peaceful now. Even if Roman didn't push himself to the brink, the Dmitry Empire would enjoy absolute, uncontested supremacy for as long as he drew breath.
Why on earth was he continuing to struggle when there were no enemies left to fight?
Seeing the raw sincerity in Kevin's question, Roman Dmitry stopped walking and looked out over the lush garden.
"As you say, there is no longer any immediate reason to live so fiercely. But Kevin, that is not how a leader thinks."
Roman understood Kevin's confusion.
In his past life, the people who followed him had reacted the exact same way. Even after he had completely conquered Murim, they would watch him immerse himself in daily, grueling training and ask him why.
"The people are free to enjoy peace. Rather than worrying about the safety of the nation, their only role is to pray for the prosperity of their futures and families. However, if a leader also becomes intoxicated by peace, an unexpected disaster will eventually threaten us all. Just a few years ago, did anyone anticipate the existence of the Demon King? Did anyone expect that I, a son of the obscure Dmitry family on the frontier, would become the Emperor of the Empire? Surely not. Just as our lives have never once gone exactly as expected, no one can say for certain what dangers lie waiting in the dark."
An Era of Great Peace.
The Heavenly Demon's presence had once utterly dominated Murim. With his martial might growing day by day, no one had dared even dream of rebellion.
"We must prepare for danger long before it appears before our eyes; only then can we remain unshaken. That is why I remain faithful to my role. So that I will never have to make the excuse of ignorance when a crisis eventually strikes the world, and so that I can take absolute responsibility for the lives of those who bleed and die at a single word of my command. I cannot allow myself even a shred of complacency."
In truth, the people of Murim had no reason to rebel.
Baek Joong-hyuk's absolute dictatorship was a utopia. The drawbacks of tyranny that everyone feared never manifested under his rule. As long as they did not break his laws, he did not interfere. He respected their individual lives and allowed them to flourish within the boundaries of common sense.
That was why, on the day of his death in his past life, the entirety of Murim—regardless of faction—had been plunged into immense, sweeping grief.
"I am a being who must live this way. Settling down to enjoy a normal life and starting a normal family are luxuries not permitted to me."
From the very bottom of the abyss, from the moment he chose to struggle just to survive, true peace had never once existed in the life of the Heavenly Demon.
Roman began walking forward once more.
Watching his retreating back, Kevin could not utter a single word. Only now did he truly see it—the crushing, invisible burden that Roman Dmitry, the Absolute, carried upon his shoulders.
* * *
Kevin returned home.
The house felt empty. Mirroring the hollow void in his chest, he collapsed onto his bed in the barren room.
"...What am I living for?"
Years ago, when he first met Roman Dmitry, Kevin had desperately wished to live a normal life, just like everyone else. That was why he had risked everything. The mundane lives of the commoners he had watched from the slums were objects of intense envy—so much so that he had gritted his teeth and severed his own arm to grasp that chance.
And now, having achieved everything, Kevin had absurdly lost his way. He had clearly wished for a reality just like this, yet he felt no desire to do anything at all.
Until a few days ago, he hadn't known the reason. But immediately after speaking with Roman Dmitry, Kevin finally realized his true feelings.
'I can no longer be normal.'
His had been a life full of deprivation. He had lived every single day yearning for something just out of reach. From the moment he finally began to live a decent, human life, his absolute reverence for Roman Dmitry had transformed into a burning sense of inferiority toward his rivals. It was a twisted emotion. While ordinary people found happiness in a peaceful, normal life, Kevin placed the entire value of his existence elsewhere.
It was a peaceful era.
Roman Dmitry was in no danger, and Kevin—a man who knew nothing but fighting—had become someone who wasn't particularly needed.
Thus, he had grown lethargic. Through these tranquil days, Kevin was slowly withering away. As he lost his sense of purpose, he began spending more and more time alone in the dark.
Just a short while ago, he had asked around about Chris's recent activities.
Despite winning the ranking tournament every single year, Chris had been utterly defeated by Roman Dmitry in their spar. Yet, reportedly, he was still burning with passion, fiercely preparing for the next tournament. His goal was to become the absolute best on the continent. Even though he knew his ultimate opponent was Roman Dmitry—an impossible, insurmountable wall—he remained unshaken. He lived to strive toward his goal.
'My Lord is right. Not everyone can live a normal life. Fortunately, Marie didn't miss her chance at normalcy, but the sight of that happy couple... it's fundamentally different from what I desire.'
Creak.
He pushed himself up from the bed.
The world no longer needed the Evil Ghost of Dmitry. The figure who had once been an object of faith for his allies had turned into an object of terror for his enemies, but Kevin did not care about such trivial things.
'I, too, will become stronger. If a threat to Dmitry appears in the distant future, I will possess power so overwhelming that they won't even be able to lift a finger. That is my reason for being. For the sake of my Lord, who dragged me from the gutter and granted me a human life... even if this peace lasts until the moment I die, I will accept death with a smile, knowing that I lived solely for him.'
Roman Dmitry was the only existence capable of filling his void. He was his god and the sole meaning of his life.
Kevin immediately grabbed his sword and strode out toward the training grounds. Though he had been forced to kneel before Chris every single time until now, he refused to remain a loser forever.
* * *
At that exact hour, in the grand conference room of a luxurious mansion, a group of people were engaged in a heated discussion.
"This is already our fourth attempt. Frankly, I believe it is impossible to sway his mind."
"We are not here to discuss what is impossible! Give me a solution! A way to make it happen!"
The atmosphere in the room was suffocatingly tense. The figure sitting at the head of the table wore a stiff, grim expression. Sensing his foul mood, the executives quickly began tossing out their respective solutions.
"First of all, our target already possesses both immense wealth and fame. Until now, we have offered terms that ordinary people would salivate over, but I believe we must take a completely different approach from here on out. What about using a honey trap? If we gather the most stunning beauties from across the continent to sway his heart, we might just turn the situation around."
"Ah, that's a brilliant idea! No matter how much wealth or power a man hoards, matters of the flesh are a completely different story."
"I disagree. He has clearly shown that he possesses a singular, distinct dream. Do you really think a man with that kind of drive would be swayed by a mere honey trap? Above all, he simply isn't the type to fall for it. There are already countless noblewomen throwing themselves at him for his looks alone. He would never accept our offer just because we dangle some women in front of him."
"Then what about targeting his master? I hear they share an exceptionally close bond."
"Are you insane? If we offend him by doing that, the entire company won't survive the consequences."
The debate in the conference room grew increasingly heated.
Over the past year, they had attempted negotiations whenever the slightest opportunity arose, but each time, they had been met with the target's uncompromising refusal. The problem was that they had no other choice. Since he was at least someone willing to sit down and talk, they couldn't just give up despite the repeated failures.
This was the absolute will of their leader.
Until he spoke the words of surrender, those who served him had to find a solution by any means necessary.
Finally, one man spoke up.
"If he has rejected all of our material terms so far, it will be impossible to persuade him no matter what conventional conditions we propose. So, why not show our absolute sincerity instead? Tell him exactly how desperately we desire it. Tell him to name his price, whatever it may be. If we declare that we will offer a fortune beyond measure just for a compromise, he might show some flexibility in response to our earnestness. Besides, certain words carry a fundamentally different weight depending on who utters them. You, my Lord, lead the Valentino Trading Company, the greatest merchant group on the continent. If you make a firm, personal resolution, Marquis Valentino, a path will surely open."
The figure sitting at the head of the table was none other than Marquis Valentino.
Having listened to his subordinates' bickering with a grave expression, he finally looked around the room and spoke, his voice heavy with resolve.
"As you all know, the sword Chris currently possesses is something I desperately wish to own. The First No-Name. The symbolism behind that series is immense. Chris and Kevin, the two men hailed as the future of Dmitry, competed fiercely over that single blade. Chris's victory decided the master of the First No-Name. A sword with such a profound history is an extraordinary treasure to a collector like me. And now that His Majesty, Emperor Roman Dmitry, is no longer forging new swords... I absolutely must have it."
He laid his burning desires bare.
Marquis Valentino had thrown himself entirely into his work. He had expanded his business like a madman, aggressively growing his influence until he finally achieved his lifelong dream of building the continent's greatest trading company. For the past year, the world had universally recognized the Valentino Trading Company as the absolute pinnacle of commerce. Remembering the unwavering devotion the company had shown during the conquest of the Demon Realm, they had leveraged that legacy to rise to the very top in just two short years.
He had completed all his preparations.
Believing his wealth and influence could now achieve anything, he had confidently met with Chris—only to be flatly rejected in all three of their meetings.
Marquis Valentino continued.
"I have waited a long time for this moment. People say I already have everything, but my true reason for living lies in acquiring tangible, absolute value. I will take the orthodox method. Rather than simply making a safe offer within my comfort zone, I will show him the resolve to give up my everything. Faced with that, even Chris won't be able to reject me outright. Do not worry. Even if we lose a great deal of wealth in this single transaction, Valentino will still remain at the top of the world."
"We obey your command."
"We obey your command."
Not a single person objected.
This company was his kingdom, and everyone present knew that Valentino's insatiable desire was the very driving force that had made them the best in the world.
Therefore, they firmly believed that this time, even Chris would find it impossible to refuse.
* * *
The very next day, the Marquis went to find Chris.
Blocking the swordsman's path as he returned from his morning training, Marquis Valentino spoke with an incredibly serious expression.
"Sir Chris. I have made three proposals so far, and you have not shown even a sliver of compromise. I understand. I know that a sword personally bestowed by His Majesty, Emperor Roman Dmitry, cannot be replaced by anything in this world. But sometimes, there comes a moment when one must let go, no matter how precious the object may be."
"Sigh... Marquis Valentino."
Chris let out an exhausted sigh.
Though the Marquis claimed it was only three official proposals, the man had been relentlessly coveting his sword at every turn.
Chris understood, to an extent. Knowing the Marquis's collector nature, he could comprehend the man's intense obsession. However, Chris could never grant his request. The First No-Name was one of a kind in the world, and he firmly believed nothing could ever replace it.
Furthermore, he didn't exactly like the fact that the Marquis had chosen to hound him instead of Kevin.
He fully intended to refuse. He was just about to draw a firm, final line in the sand, but Marquis Valentino spoke first.
Rustle.
"Please, take this."
He handed something over. It was a completely blank sheet of paper.
As Chris stared down at the empty parchment in confusion, an absurdly shocking statement reached his ears.
"It is a blank sheet. I want you to write down everything you desire—enough to fill that entire space, which could easily hold thousands of words. If you do, I will deliver every single thing written on it, staking the very name of the Valentino family to make it happen. The condition, as you well know, is only one."
He slowly lowered his gaze to Chris's waist.
The moment he spotted the sheathed blade hanging there—the First No-Name—Marquis Valentino's eyes burned with raw, unfiltered greed.
"If you give that to me, I will give you everything in this world. Valentino has the power to do so."