The Picture I Drew (1)
It felt like deep sleep. A profound rest where not even dreams could intrude. It had to be the first time I'd closed my eyes like this since awakening. Part of me was glad for it, even as I realized—this must be what sleeping like the dead feels like.
Great Evil Seven Deadly Sins Wrath. Who would've thought that bastard had such a novel pattern up his sleeve.
Wrath was far stronger than I'd anticipated, but I wasn't worried. I had faith. Not in myself, but in Grandfell. I trusted that he would surely hunt it down.
If anything, I should worry less about Grandfell and more about... me.
The enemies we'd face from here on out were on a whole different level. I was reminded of that yet again. And that I, Lee Hoyeol, was hopelessly inadequate before them.
Things were different now. I was shouldering far too much baggage for a mere bubble of pride. If I drowned in it, all that weight would sink with me.
So my task was simple. I needed to raise the proficiency of my skill, Heaven and Earth Sole Respect. Through the curse, Darkness Understanding.
I had to fully restore Grandfell to his prime. Because it wasn't me, Lee Hoyeol, who could handle the crises bearing down on reality and the Arcana Continent—it was Grandfell.
In that sense, I chuckled. Maybe I needed to get used to this sensation.
It's dark. Darker even than with my eyes closed. In the blackness, I felt like I existed somewhere, but I couldn't be sure—nothing was visible, nothing tangible.
But one thing I knew: my body wouldn't respond to my will. Like motor mouth had infected my entire being? If I had to compare it...
Maybe it was like our usual roles reversed—me and Grandfell swapped places.
Why, I'd thought something like that before. The moment Heaven and Earth Sole Respect's proficiency hit 100 percent—what would become of me?
Thanks to me passing out, maybe I was getting a preview of what was to come. I seemed to recall a message about Blackening at the end...
Could be the effect of that. Either way, it wasn't a great feeling, as expected.
But I wasn't complaining. Simple empathy. I wondered if this was how Grandfell felt all the time.
Drifting in the darkness, a voice suddenly echoed.
"Even that single ray of light has been stolen from me."
My voice, but not mine. So it had to be Grandfell speaking.
A single ray of light, huh. No idea what he meant, but it was meaningfully cryptic in true Grandfell fashion. Making mountains out of molehills, like steeping a teabag in green tea or surfing the internet.
But his next words made me flinch.
"Then I shall take it in turn."
...Take what?
"The Demon Realm, and all of yours besides."
The demons' homeland, the Demon Realm. Excluding the Seven Deadly Sins born on the Arcana Continent, every demon from the upper demon kings on down originated there.
Grandfell's declaration was straightforward. In compensation for that stolen ray of light, he intended to claim the entire Demon Realm.
Only then did I grasp where this path was leading.
I realized it anew, as I had when first activating the skill Heaven and Earth Sole Respect. I truly didn't know Grandfell at all.
As the system—never one for lies—had said, I only grasped a measly 10 percent of his proficiency.
There was always a subtle disconnect between the settings I'd scribbled and Grandfell's words and actions.
Even now. Grandfell was blatantly furious.
『As the next head of the Claudy family, the first thing Grandfell ingrained in himself was not to rejoice or despair over petty matters. The seat of the Claudy family head tolerated not the slightest wavering.』
Unlike the setting.
Why? I had no idea.
Normally, I'd be freaking out by now. Charging into the Demon Realm alone? What if an upper demon king came rushing out...!
You're really going to drown in your pride at this rate.
But that was still from my perspective, Lee Hoyeol's. Of course, if it was you, Grandfell, you might actually pull it off.
That's when it hit me. Maybe just keeping my eyes closed like this...
Would be the best for everyone I could manage.
But life doesn't play nice like that.
A voice pierced the darkness.
"Who are you? As I thought..."
A faint male voice, but familiar enough to recognize instantly. Nam Taemin.
And this Nam Taemin was earnestly reciting.
"Grandfell Claudi Arpeus R..."
That damned full name...!!
Coming from Nam Taemin's mouth—not a total stranger, but still. It hurt just hearing him say it seriously.
Even if it's you, not Romeo, okay?!
...So sorry, but the Demon Realm conquest will have to wait, Grandfell.
I desperately forced my mouth open. No panic, no sign of just waking up. Just like always, I declared.
"A most belated question."
Shamelessly.
"It is I, Lee Hoyeol."
Then my vision began to brighten. Not fully—just a single ray piercing the endless depths...
*
—"It is I, Lee Hoyeol."
Thud.
Hoyeol collapsed with those words. It was hardly surprising. How could he stand tall with that much blood loss? How could he even walk forward?
It was enough to make one doubt their eyes.
"...Hoyeol-ssi!!"
Nam Taemin's bones were crushed, but he kicked off the ground and lunged. He caught Hoyeol before he hit the floor.
Of all people, Hoyeol had passed out. One should worry, naturally...
"Damn."
Nam Taemin felt like an idiot for the faint smile on his face. Are you doubting and admiring on your own whim again, Nam Taemin?
Self-reproach echoed as 'It is I, Lee Hoyeol' replayed in his mind—that answer from Hoyeol.
"Operation success! All forces, withdraw!"
The Holy War Alliance returned to the Iron Castle Ho alongside their supreme commander, Hoyeol.
The process wasn't smooth. Behemoth's Maw was no easy place.
"So the demons were pouring out from there?"
Demons enough to blanket the Arcana Continent. The sight made their numbers comprehensible.
Many demons were torn apart, but those surviving to set foot on the continent were no small force either.
Bam.
Chainwalker shook off a demon with his hammer and said,
"Do you finally understand? The continent didn't abandon us to their invasion. They knew, but couldn't act. It was already too late. That's why we should have heeded Akkshan's words."
Hisagi nodded. Without the dwarves' superior gear for tanking and the Iron Castle Ho's firepower, they'd have died screaming.
But as you see, they succeeded. Even if the supreme commander had collapsed unconscious and been carried back aboard the Iron Castle Ho ...
It meant everyone had returned to the Iron Castle Ho.
Hisagi glanced at the two spirits, High El and Diend.
"We beg your forgiveness, my lord..."
With Hoyeol's collapse, the spirits regained their senses. The endless darkness that had shrouded the Arcana Continent vanished.
As if nothing had happened.
Hisagi looked to Nam Taemin.
What kind of muscles are those?
Not a single unbroken limb, yet he was already healing naturally. Nam Taemin sat in a chair, bandaging himself.
"I'm fine. I'll do it."
"Stay still."
"No, do you even know how to bandage? You're a berserker. Bandages are a debuff for you. Not like Cheolmin-hyung, I'd rather..."
"Shut it?"
Tight.
Leoni wrapped the bandage mercilessly. Nam Taemin's brow furrowed, but Hisagi could tell—it was a relieved expression.
Gaon and Inazuma. The former guild masters representing Korea and Japan knew each other well. Faces told emotions.
Once Leoni left, Hisagi asked Nam Taemin,
"What did you discuss?"
"Curious?"
"Yes, very."
Nam Taemin flinched. The rival who never yielded was being compliant.
He chuckled anew. Probably the gravity of the situation.
"Well."
As he spoke, Nam Taemin thought, My head's a mess—I barely get it myself.
Facing Hoyeol amid bone-crushing pain. As expected, it wasn't Hoyeol.
Aside from the long hair, he looked the same. But those eyes weren't Hoyeol's.
Not like looking at a bug, either.
Probably, in that gaze, he wasn't even visible. Just insignificant dust.
No one cares what drifting dust does. To him, Nam Taemin's pain meant nothing.
That's why Nam Taemin had asked, certain.
"Was it a conversation? Just a question."
"What question?"
"Just... 'Who are you?'"
Hisagi recalled Nam Taemin's words.
—"That's not the supreme commander I know. No, not Hoyeol-ssi..."
The moment they entered Behemoth's Maw, Nam Taemin had said it.
Hisagi hadn't thought much of it.
"I took it as mere metaphor then."
Just meaning he was different. But considering Nam Taemin's blunt usual speech...
Hisagi smiled faintly and continued.
"As expected, no need to overthink with you."
"What’s that mean?"
"A compliment."
"Oh? Good then."
Not just them. The Iron Castle Ho brimmed with questions.
Why, the moment Hoyeol collapsed, did the continent-spanning darkness vanish? Why did the long hair revert? Why did warmth return to him?
No answers yet.
So gazing at the door of the cabin where Hoyeol rested was best. Without neglecting their duties, per his teachings.
Suddenly, Hisagi asked,
"What did the supreme commander answer?"
"Gotta spell it all out? Writing a memoir or what?"
"Actually, I intend to. A chronicle of his feats. I vowed it while browsing books in the Mage Tower. How could there be no record of his greatness? I must pen it myself."
"...That's madness."
Nam Taemin was genuinely floored. But Hisagi's face was utterly serious. Unyielding.
To shake off the clingy snake,
"Not like I can't say it."
He spoke.
"But my question didn't end there."
"Every detail, please."
"Be this obedient normally."
Chiding aside, Nam Taemin continued.
"As I said, it didn't seem like Hoyeol-ssi. So who was wearing his uniform? Only one name came to mind."
"Naturally."
"Right."
That was when.
"The Grandfell Claudi Arpeus R... from Claudy Territory that Hoyeol-ssi went searching for..."
Creak.
"...!!!"
The door to the cabin where Hoyeol lay swung open.