Chapter 249: The People Who Protected Him


    “I will become your new sanctuary.”


    It was clear that my voice had reached them. From the rooftop of the Royal Palace, countless souls awakening and converging towards me could be seen over the horizon of the continent, so many that the ground was no longer visible.


    While Stella and Lucia were still able to hold back the clouds of Holy Power, I quickly moved to the next phase.


    Dooooooooong!


    Though I said nothing, seeing me pull out the second Mana Stone, the middle stone, from my robe, Owen continued his performance with even more passion.


    Souls began to gather at the sound of his performance, coming to me.


    However, due to the clouds of Holy Power covering half of Graypond, the souls inevitably took some time to reach me.


    Whooosh!


    But then, a golden breeze blew.


    A butterfly, larger than ever, appeared above Graypond and blocked the drizzle of Holy Power.


    The King of Light Elemental Spirit.


    And riding it was Erica Bright.


    As her golden hair fluttered in the fierce wind, Erica pointed towards me and began channeling mana into the wind.


    As a result, the souls approaching me got here much faster.


    Thanks to this, the Holy Power was held back to some extent, and the souls also had no hesitation in their movements.


    Riding on Owen’s performance, they gradually began to approach Graypond, one after another, like a chain.


    “Phew.”


    I tightened my grip on the middle stone.


    Though it had just begun, the second spell I had prepared activated.


    This time, it wasn’t just my voice that was being broadcast. It was more complex and intricate.


    I spread my unique magic across the entire continent.


    [This is...]


    The Dark Spiritualist by my side let out a gasp. Being the closest, her figure was the first to gain a more distinct color.


    And it wasn’t just her, but all the souls.


    Every soul on this continent had now revealed themselves through my magic.


    “Kyaaaaaahhh!”


    “W-what?! Velton?!”


    “F-Father? But you passed away last year!”


    The screams of the citizens erupted all over Graypond. Since they had already been saved by the souls during the Romuleus incident or had bid them farewell through my magic, the chaos was relatively minimal. R?α?ΝΟ??s?


    But the confusion in other cities would be at unimaginable levels right now.


    All the deceased had awakened upon hearing my voice and also revealed themselves.


    I felt dizzy and it felt like my brain was filled with blood. A metallic taste stung my tongue and nose, but I did not stop the spell.


    I continued to give form to the souls.


    I was showing everyone the world I had seen until now.


    Just for this moment.


    The boundary between life and death drawn over the continent disappeared.


    “Behold...”


    Most people would assume this magic was simply meant for the dead, but strictly speaking, when I first designed the spell, it was actually intended for the living.


    It was to warn that danger had reached the continent. And that it must not only be known to the dead.


    “Continent, awaken.”


    Still, my voice continued to be broadcast throughout the continent.


    Beyond the Griffin Kingdom, the Clark Republic, and the Jerman Kingdom. And even beyond them, to the Han Empire and the Duchy of Valestan.


    Even the countless countries whose names were still unknown could surely hear my voice.


    “Raise your heads, do not fear.”


    This was a duty.@@@@


    It was the duty of the living to watch over the departing dead for the future.


    “O’ ye who breathe upon this land, watch over those who were once the continent’s past but have now become its future.”


    The souls that rose to the sky and approached me were bidding farewell to the continent in their own way.


    Salvation of the continent—It could indeed be called a great achievement, but it should not be borne by one person alone, like Aria in the original work.


    The image of a hero saving the world from the shadows, unnoticed by anyone, was truly grand and deeply moving.


    But I wondered...


    Was that really right?


    The opposite of saving the continent was its destruction —the seed of downfall and the signal of the end.


    Extinguishing that alone would indeed be an incredible achievement that couldn’t be compared to any other, but...


    What came after?


    Heroes from comics or movies always said things like:


    Just live life with a smile.


    Today, they protected another ordinary day for the people.


    And even if no one noticed, they remained satisfied with just that.


    No.


    It was not.


    That was wrong.


    It shouldn’t be like that.


    They protected everyone’s bright smiles?


    They safeguarded the daily lives of people, ensuring they could continue to tomorrow?


    Pelestan glanced at Deus and let out a deep sigh, expressing his honest feelings.


    Swish.


    As he took his stance, the accumulated blood around him began to rise, creating a menacing scene.


    The atmosphere was distinctly different from the last time they fought.


    Back then, Findenai had been the one pursuing Pelestan, who was trying to escape.


    Now, it was clear that he was determined to face her head-on.


    “Just as you protect the Soul Whisperer, I protect Luaneth.”


    “Huff.”


    After taking a long drag, Findenai put the cigarette butt in the case and replied indifferently.


    “If you’re here to sell sob stories, piss off, you idiot.”


    “Hah...”


    “This bastard keeps talking in such a pathetic manner. You hope Master Bastard’s way is right, but you’ll kill my Master Bastard because of your leader? What a load of bullshit, why is it so complicated?”


    She would be facing Pelestan, who was undoubtedly the second strongest in Dante’s combat power, right after her fight with Zhang Run..


    Knowing that this fight would be even fiercer than the one with Zhang Run, Findenai felt power surging throughout her whole body. Her body also moved far better than during the first fight, as if she were oiled with blood.


    She was constantly regaining blood and recovering her stamina through the Hand of Hemomancy.


    On the other hand, her opponent was a Mage who controlled blood.


    One could say they were natural enemies, but Findenai didn’t think about it like that.


    She simply fought, killed, and protected.


    Why?


    “My reason is simple.”


    “...”


    Because I want to stay with that man until the end! Damn it!”


    Boom!


    Snow White struck the ground violently.


    Her fighting spirit burst out in all directions, causing even Pelestan to take a step back.


    A bright smile appeared on his lips.


    “You’re right, there’s no need for complicated thoughts.”


    The blood spheres gathered in Pelestan’s hands poured in all directions, clashing with Findenai’s fighting spirit.


    Thus, the two rushed at each other for the sake of those precious to them.


    * * *


    As Findenai and Pelestan’s battle began, the Dark Spiritualist, who had been assisting Deus, sensed a Killing Intent coming from behind.


    [...]


    Deus was completely preoccupied, receiving the souls into the Land of Eternal Rest.


    And Findenai was already fighting a formidable enemy.


    Therefore, the Dark Spiritualist slowly withdrew her hand from Deus’ shoulder and turned around.


    A man slowly ascended onto the palace rooftop.


    Disheveled white hair, a raven mask hiding his face, and lastly, the cursed staff that had claimed countless human lives.


    Thick and ominous black mana seeped from Luaneth’s body, bound to death.


    No, this was the appearance of Heralhazard.


    [You said you would leave it to us, didn’t you? Have you changed your mind?]


    The man who had laid down his beliefs and wished to accept death as Luaneth had now returned as Heralhazard to uphold those beliefs.


    “...”


    He remained silent, only showcasing his killing intent to annihilate all the souls Deus Verdi was summoning.


    The Dark Spiritualist sensed that something felt off.


    This wasn’t the same man who had entrusted his beliefs and wished to die as Luaneth in the Rometiu Forest.


    This wasn’t the man who had entrusted the continent’s fate to Deus after asking for his help.


    Was it due to the intervention of the gods?


    Perhaps that was the reason, but the Dark Spiritualist didn’t consider it a major obstacle.


    Pondering over it for too long would only lead to her own annihilation first.


    The man before her was Heralhazard.


    Acknowledged by numerous Dark Mages as the strongest Dark Mage in the continent’s history.


    [I once vowed to surpass your legend.]


    Mana surged throughout the Dark Spiritualist’s body.


    Although she was in her soul form and not in perfect condition, she slowly turned her head and looked at Deus Verdi’s back.


    [I have said my farewell.]


    With his back facing her, the Dark Spiritualist’s purple mana began to roar violently towards Heralhazard’s mana.


    She wasn’t in perfect condition.


    If she were alive—if she had her physical body—she would be able to wield far more mana and a lot more spells than now.


    There was only one condition; it was to protect that man.


    The Dark Spiritualist was sure that, in her entire life, she would have not been able to display greater skill than she was about to now.


    “...”


    [Your teacher is the greatest Dark Mage on the continent.]


    Perhaps because of that, a faint smile crept on her lips beneath the transparent veil.


    [My apprentice, I finally have a chance to prove it to /genesisforsaken