Chapter 540

Velkia was returning to Luna’s house after having dinner at Kyle’s, as she had every day.

Whoosh—

A sudden gust of wind made Velkia squeeze her eyes shut.

When she opened them again—

“...?”

Her mouth fell open at the sight of the beautiful woman standing before her.

“Lysinas-nim?”

“Hello, Velkia.”

Lysinas approached her with a radiant smile.

Velkia stiffened, unsure how to behave before her.

Lysinas, the Wise King.

The great Dragon hailed as the hope of the world.

Even though Velkia had become the disciple of three of Lysinas’s companions—Kyle, Luna, and Arron—her presence remained overwhelming.

Lysinas looked at the young girl and asked,

“Are you returning from Kyle’s house?”

“Yes. But how did you know I was there?”

“I heard you’ve been visiting his house quite often lately.”

Velkia blinked her large eyes and looked up at Lysinas.

“Velkia, what is Kyle’s house to you?”

Velkia fell into deep thought.

Lysinas was mildly surprised by how seriously she considered the question.

She sensed a gravity in Velkia that did not belong to a child.

'As expected, being born in the Era of Calamity and enduring so much has made her unusually thoughtful.'

Bitterness welled within Lysinas.

Velkia belonged to a generation born into misfortune.

The thought made her heart ache.

After pondering for a moment, Velkia answered with her usual expressionless face.

“A restaurant.”

“....”

“No. A famous restaurant?”

“I see.”

'She really is Luna and Kyle’s disciple.'

Lysinas smiled warmly at the unexpected answer.

Of course, Velkia was also Arron’s disciple.

However, Lysinas refused to place Arron in the same category as those two.

'Arron is kind and pure. More importantly, he’s perfectly normal.'

He was the sole normal person trapped among a malicious bastard, an eccentric, and a pervert.

He might have been somewhat timid and cowardly, but what was wrong with that?

If he knew what she was thinking, Arron would surely wave his hands and defend his companions.

As for the others—

'What nonsense is that swindling lizard spouting?'

'That black-hearted Dragon!'

'Someone as sinister as her appearance has no right to say that.'

Merely imagining her companions jeering at her made Lysinas’s head ache.

She sighed inwardly and bent her knees to meet Velkia’s gaze.

“Velkia.”

“Yes?”

“How long do you intend to keep eating at Kyle’s house?”

“Forever.”

“Even if Luna’s cooking improves?”

“Hmm.”

Velkia tilted her head.

“How much would it improve?”

“Enough to become delicious.”

“That seems impossible.”

Disbelief flickered in Velkia’s eyes.

“Master Kyle said your cooking and Master Luna’s are both cursed.”

'That brat!'

Lysinas’s eyes twitched, but she maintained her composure.

“Even so, suppose Luna’s cooking became as delicious as Kyle’s. What would you do then?”

“I would eat with Master Luna.”

Velkia answered without hesitation.

Luna had always taken care of her.

From Velkia’s perspective, choosing Luna was only natural.

“It’s not as though Master Kyle would be disappointed.”

Velkia grumbled with a slightly sullen expression.

Kyle currently treated her like a freeloader for visiting his house every day.

“I can already imagine exactly how that bastard behaves.”

Lysinas sighed softly.

“Even if Luna’s cooking becomes as delicious as Kyle’s, why not continue eating at his house?”

“Why?”

“...Because Kyle might feel a little less lonely if you do.”

“He doesn’t look lonely at all.”

Velkia tilted her head.

Lysinas gave a bitter smile.

“You’re right. Kyle probably doesn’t feel lonely. That is the nature of someone who refuses to leave behind any attachments.”

Lysinas stood and looked toward Kyle’s house.

“Even so, I think it would be better for you to remain beside him than to leave him alone.”

Velkia considered her words before replying,

“Wouldn’t it be better if he got married?”

“What?”

“I think he would be less lonely that way.”

Caught off guard, Lysinas forced an awkward smile.

“That might be good. But such matters can wait until everything is over....”

“It would be perfect if Master Luna and Master Kyle got married.”

“What are you talking about?”

Lysinas’s expression instantly turned serious.

Velkia failed to notice and continued innocently,

“I don’t particularly like the idea, but they suit each other.”

“....”

'This child is strangely dangerous.'

With that thought, Lysinas said,

“Isn’t Luna far too good for him?”

“That’s true. You truly are the Wise King.”

Velkia looked impressed before falling into serious contemplation.

Watching her, Lysinas smiled faintly.

'Did I interfere unnecessarily?'

Regret always came too late.

===

Even after that day, Velkia continued visiting Kyle’s house.

Meanwhile, Luna worked tirelessly to improve her cooking.

Despite her eccentric personality, Luna was talented at almost everything. The moment she applied herself, her cooking improved dramatically.

Lysinas practiced alongside her, but her own skills showed no improvement whatsoever, as though they truly were cursed.

Yet even after Luna’s cooking became palatable, Velkia continued eating at Kyle’s house.

Luna was disappointed.

However, Velkia kept her promise to Lysinas and never stopped visiting Kyle.

Several more months passed.

By the time half a year had passed since Velkia became Kyle’s disciple, the Great Heroes once again departed for the battlefields of Tartarus.

===

“I wonder when Master Luna and Master Arron will return.”

Velkia hummed as she walked.

After the Great Heroes departed on their expedition, she had finally completed the task Kyle had assigned her.

She could now resume learning Magic from Luna and swordsmanship from Arron.

The thought filled her with joy.

'I probably won’t have anything to learn from Master Kyle for a while.'

His training had been grueling.

She never wanted to endure anything like it again.

Yet for some reason, a trace of regret lingered in her heart.

When Kyle came to mind, Velkia shook her head vigorously.

Even so, her happiness at being able to study under Luna and Arron again outweighed everything else.

'I want to become strong quickly and stand on the battlefield beside my masters.'

Velkia understood.

To stand upon the battlefield was to risk one’s life.

The thought frightened her.

But more than that, she wanted to help her masters.

Before being her teachers, they were her benefactors.

'Master Luna and Master Arron don’t like it when I say things like that.'

Velkia pouted.

Clutching the Magic Tome Luna had left behind against her chest, she walked through a corridor in Guardslone’s central castle.

'I hope they come back soon.'

Just then, the corridor grew noisy.

'They’re back!'

Velkia hurried toward the commotion.

She raced through the corridor near the Warp Gate and heard frantic voices beyond the corner.

“Get a healer! Quickly!”

“Dweno-nim is severely injured!”

“I’m fine! Treat Arron and the critically wounded first!”

“Yes, sir!”

“Luna! Kyle’s injuries are serious! Hurry and use Heal Magic—!”

“Wait, Lysinas! This idiot is in the worst condition! Arron, wake up!”

“Lysinas, I’m fine. Treat Arron first.”

“But....”

“Go to that idiot! I can reach the infirmary myself!”

“O-Okay! Don’t push yourself!”

“You fool! That isn’t courage—it’s recklessness!”

People with pale faces rushed to treat the Heroes returning from the expedition.

Countless healers swarmed around the severely wounded.

Arron’s injuries were particularly horrific.

Velkia’s face turned white.

Clutching the Magic Tome more tightly, she hid behind the corner.

Healers raced frantically through the corridor.

“Kyle-nim! You must receive treatment immediately!”

“I’m fine. See to the others first. I’ll make my own way to the infirmary.”

Kyle stepped calmly through the Warp Gate.

His wounds were not life-threatening.

He had been injured while protecting Arron, who had abruptly charged into the front lines to seize an opportunity for victory.

Compared to Arron and the other Heroes, Kyle’s condition was relatively stable.

Step. Step.

His blood-soaked footsteps echoed through the corridor.

Thud—!

“Urgh—! Damn it.”

Kyle dropped to one knee and spat out a curse.

His wounds were by no means light.

His hands trembled violently.

Sensing someone watching him, he raised his head.

“M-Master Kyle....”

“Velkia...?”

Kyle smiled bitterly when he noticed the large Magic Tome clutched tightly in her arms.

Then he smiled.

“Did you finish your assignment?”

“Yes....”

“...That was fast. Well done.”

Velkia’s eyes widened.

It was a simple compliment.

Yet it was the first time Kyle had ever praised her.

Kyle attempted to stand, only to stumble.

“M-Master! Let me help you!”

Velkia dropped the Magic Tome and rushed to support him.

Kyle did not refuse.

That alone revealed how serious his condition was.

“H-Healer! We need a healer over here! Master Kyle is—!”

“Velkia.”

Kyle softly called her name as she searched desperately for help.

Velkia looked up and met his gray eyes.

They were different from the desolate eyes she usually saw.

They contained pity.

Sorrow.

And understanding.

“Become strong quickly. Become strong... and stand beside me on the battlefield.”

He understood Velkia’s desire to fight so that she could ease the burden carried by her masters.

Yet his gaze also contained self-loathing.

He despised himself for telling such a young disciple to stand upon the battlefield.

Luna and Arron were different.

No matter what happened, they wanted Velkia to live in a peaceful world.

They taught her so that she could protect herself, not because they wanted another comrade on the battlefield.

Kyle was different.

In that era, Velkia would inevitably be forced to fight.

He grieved for his disciple, who had been born into an age without peace.

At the same time, he understood her desire to follow her masters into battle.

It was an era that offered no other choice.

Therefore—

'You cannot possess the weakness of depending upon others.'

That was why Kyle had always treated Velkia so coldly.

None of them knew when they might die.

If they vanished, their disciple would still be forced to live a life of struggle.

He wanted her to become independent as quickly as possible.

Only then did Velkia understand.

Kyle had never indulged her because he was preparing her to survive without them.

She looked at him with terrified eyes.

Suddenly, she was afraid he might disappear at any moment.

“Help me reach the infirmary.”

Kyle’s eyes had already returned to their usual emotionless state.

Velkia gritted her teeth.

“...Yes.”

She silently supported him as they walked toward the infirmary.

Despite his severe wounds and reliance on her shoulder, Kyle still radiated strength.

A strength that made her want to depend upon him.

But Velkia suppressed that feeling.

'If I had a father... would it feel like this?'

With that thought, Velkia continued walking.

===

Rooooar—!

Leo looked at Velkia, whose head hung low.

The young girl from those days was gone.

All that remained was a disciple who had survived countless battlefields, saved the world, led it forward...

And ultimately been betrayed by it.

Slowly, Velkia straightened.

Only the instincts of an Undead consumed by hatred for the living remained in her movements.

'Back then, I had no choice but to teach you how to endure alone so that you could survive that era.'

Step. Step.

Leo walked toward Velkia.

But the times had changed.

There was no longer any need for her to shoulder everything alone.

'We ended that era. You no longer need to live as we did.'

He should have taught her another way to live.

But he had never been given the chance.

Therefore—

“Now, I will teach you how to rely on others.”

Leo stopped and looked behind him.

“Watch carefully and learn.”

His voice was quiet as he turned his gaze forward again.

“Because this...”

Leo bent his knees.

“...is a battle between those who were forced to live through that era.”

Boom—!

Leo kicked off the ground and charged toward Velkia.

(T/N: Phew. This might be the most emotionaly heavy arc since the beggining.)

***