novelraw Chapter 220 : Chapter 220
Chapter 220 : Chapter 220
Chapter 200: Epilogue
“…….”
Hearing the last words of the Lord of Calamity, Austin, Harang’s expression soured.
Inevitably so.
It was he who pushed countless people into the abyss of death to uphold Calamity’s absurd rules.
He still remembered.
Maria’s laughter, joyful after being freed from Calamity, finding her true self.
It was still vivid.
Unlike the past of mercilessly cutting down peers, Cecilia’s expression as she earnestly discussed a new life with her brother.
‘But… they’re all dead.’
Yes.
All dead.
Not cleanly dead, but used even in death as the Red Magician’s puppets, unable to find rest.
And yet, the person who orchestrated this, at the very end, spoke of… caring for his family?
It was so absurd he couldn’t even speak properly.
He wanted to torture Austin to die in greater pain.
“……Hoo.”
But Harang brushed off those emotions with one big sigh.
Not out of pity for the Lord of Calamity.
Regardless of him, it was because of Gael, already splendidly carving out his own life.
“Without you needing to worry, Gael is already magnificently forging his path. Without Calamity, without the village… unlike you.”
A cold voice.
But the meaning within was warm beyond measure. Far too warm for words to a sinner who took countless lives.
Perhaps because of that?
The Lord of Calamity spoke with a more relaxed expression than before.
“I see… Unlike me, Gael has already escaped Calamity’s curse.”
“Yes. Unlike you.”
“Yes, yes… Hoo.”
That was the end.
With his final breath, the Lord of Calamity passed from the world.
Watching this, Harang wore a bitter expression.
The aftertaste was bitter.
After all, Mercenary King Austin had been the closest person he associated and fought with over the past two or three years. The fact that he was the Lord of Calamity, manipulating everything from behind, made Harang’s thoughts complex.
“……No, let’s stop thinking.”
Continuing to ponder the organization called ‘Calamity,’ Harang shook his head vigorously.
Yes, there was no need to dwell further. The Lord of Calamity was no longer of this world. Rather, devising ways to deal with the elusive Red Magician would be far wiser.
‘The Village’s General Manager is probably still alive, and some remnants of Calamity remain…’
But it wasn’t a big deal.
No matter how strong they were, they couldn’t compare to the current Harang.
Who was the being he just defeated?
The Lord of Calamity. The one who controlled the continent’s shadows, with martial prowess strong enough to look down on even the Holy Kingdom’s strongest, the White Knight Commander, knelt before his sword.
Moreover, that wasn’t the end.
Harang closed his eyes.
Then, his experience in the demon world came vividly, as if it just happened. The intense presence of Demon Archduke Berkis, the sharp momentum of his greatest sword, Malein. All were in his mind.
It was a tremendous experience and asset. A driving force for the already strong Harang to advance to even higher realms.
Thinking this far, it was clear that finding anyone in the world who could match the current Harang would be difficult.
But then.
His senses caught a presence both familiar and unfamiliar.
He turned his body.
There, a red-haired swordsman reeking of blood approached with steady steps.
“……Maya.”
Yes.
Her name was Maya.
In one hand, she held a sharp sword.
In the other, the severed head of the Village’s General Manager.
That alone was shocking, but the atmosphere she exuded was even more peculiar. For some reason, the discomfort he felt when facing the Red Magician emanated from her.
Harang asked.
“Did you kill the Red Magician?”
“Yes.”
“And absorbed his power?”
“Correct. It was quite nourishing. I confirmed it while fighting the Village’s General Manager.”
Giggling unpleasantly, Maya flung the Village’s General Manager’s head. It rolled de-gururur and stopped at Harang’s feet, covered in dirt and dust, devoid of its former majesty.
‘Killing the Village’s General Manager without any damage… You’ve grown a lot, Maya.’
Was it an awakening?
Or did she borrow black magic’s power?
It seemed the latter. The regrown arm wasn’t normal. Harang speculated something had happened with the Red Magician.
But that wasn’t important.
What Harang was truly curious about was something else.
He said.
“Maya, Calamity is gone now. There’s no need for you and me to fight. So why did you appear before me?”
“…….”
“No intention to answer?”
Truly curious, Harang kept asking.
But Maya didn’t respond.
Just grinning savagely once.
Thud-
Kwaaaaaang!
With a sword mixed with black magic energy and aura, she stabbed at Harang’s throat.
‘Typical Maya.’
Blocking her attack with difficulty, Harang thought inwardly.
Yes, this was the usual Maya.
In the past.
Now.
And perhaps in the future.
She would surely keep targeting him.
Asking the reason for her actions would be as foolish as it gets.
“Fine, let’s end this.”
Woooooooong-!
Muttering quietly, Harang manifested his golden aura again. And he continued the final battle with the being who never lost her identity as a Godok until the very end.
Kwaang!
Kwaaaaaang!
Clang-!
The relentless roars and shockwaves.
In a clearing a suitable distance from Marzen, with no audience… the two fought a desperate battle for a long time.
***
After Harang’s disappearance.
Marzen’s people showed varied reactions.
The calmest were Glen and the Eddy Mercenary Corps members. Their faith in Harang was as solid as steel.
“Is Brother Harang an ordinary person? He’ll probably come back soon like nothing happened.”
“Right, exactly.”
As if it wasn’t just talk, the Eddy Mercenary Corps members showed no anxiety, maintaining their daily lives while waiting for Harang. Philip Portville and Ransel Grantz showed similar reactions, helping reassure those around them.
‘Is Harang okay?’
‘He’s not dead. But… we shouldn’t be too optimistic.’
On the other hand, Gael and Hagio thought differently.
They knew much more information. Considering Harang’s enemy wasn’t just the Red Magician but all of Calamity, they couldn’t help but worry.
Above all, their greatest caution was toward the Lord of Calamity.
Thinking of him, with strength to put even the Village’s General Manager at his feet, even Harang, who awakened the Black Sword, would face a tough fight.
But there was someone living with even greater worry and anxiety.
It was Marzen’s genius, Sheratiya Viyan.
Inevitably so.
A few days ago, she was the only one who met Harang and heard all his circumstances.
She still remembered vividly.
He said he was going for the final fight.
It wouldn’t take long. Maybe even a day.
Saying that with a smile, Harang left Marzen…
‘Why isn’t he back! It’s been a week already!’
Sheratiya frowned deeply.
Her mix of irritation, anger, worry, and anxiety was so intense that even approaching her felt daunting. Even her parents, who enjoyed teasing her, kept their distance, showing how unstable Sheratiya was now.
“Hoo.”
She sighed.
Today too. She went to Marzen’s south gate, where he disappeared, waiting endlessly, but to no avail. Not only Harang but not a single black-haired human came into view.
‘When is he coming back!’
Her insides burned, her heart ached.
A fiery yet heavy emotion felt like it would burst out any moment.
But Sheratiya held it in.
With superhuman patience, she suppressed and suppressed the emotions trying to erupt.
‘Because I need to show a smiling face.’
Yes.
Showing a bright, cheerful face to the one who might return anytime.
That was the best action Sheratiya Viyan could take.
Thus, she held back the tears threatening to flow, buried the harsh words trying to escape deep in her heart… and only looked around Marzen’s plains with awkwardly upturned lips.
But.
There was something Sheratiya hadn’t considered.
Just because Harang disappeared through the south gate didn’t mean he’d return through it.
“Lady Viyan.”
“……?”
“Hm? Why that expression?”
Harang, calling her name not from outside Marzen but within.
Staring at him blankly, Sheratiya burst into tears.
The thought of smiling had long vanished.
Pounding his chest with clenched fists, she asked.
“You said you’d be back soon! Soon, soon, you bastard!”
“Ah… I’m sorry. I got delayed fighting someone unexpected. I had to heal some injuries, rest, and internalize what I realized from that fight… It took longer than expected. I’m sorry.”
Harang apologized with utmost sincerity.
It was his usual self.
His usual calmness.
Though it could’ve been upsetting, the emotion rising in Sheratiya’s heart was relief.
It’s real.
Really, truly, Harang is back.
Finally realizing it, an honest feeling slipped from her mouth unconsciously.
“I love you.”
“…….”
“You don’t have to accept it. No, no! It’s not that it doesn’t matter… Anyway, I have to say this now. I love you. I love you so much… I don’t want you to get hurt, I don’t want you to be in danger, I don’t want you to go elsewhere. I want us to be real lovers, not just a contract, to go on dates, drink together, um, I mean…”
But soon, Sheratiya’s voice, continuing with momentum, gradually quieted.
She belatedly realized.
How embarrassing her actions were.
How embarrassing the words she poured out… Looking at Harang’s calm expression, it felt all too clear.
‘No, damn it! What do I do? What do I do!’
Eventually, completely mumbling, Sheratiya looked at Harang with a timid cat-like expression.
She wanted to die.
She wanted to turn back time, take back her words. She’d pay a fortune to escape this awkward situation. Thinking this far, Sheratiya shut her eyes tightly.
But then.
“……?”
Feeling a soft touch on her lips, Sheratiya opened her eyes wide.
It wasn’t a mistake.
Harang, with a gentle smile, touched his lips to hers again and gave an unexpected answer.
“I like it.”
“……Huh? What?”
“I like it. Lady Viyan, no… Sheratiya. Let’s be lovers from now on.”
“……Huh? Huhhh?”
“Hm, so this is the feeling.”
Sheratiya Viyan, with a broken expression, kept muttering ‘Huhhh?’
Looking at her, now his lover, Harang smiled softly.
It felt good.
But separately, he couldn’t clearly explain the current emotion. Love was a very complex and difficult emotion for someone who lived his life in darkness.
But it was okay.
He was no longer a Godok.
Like when he first came to Marzen and learned various things, he could learn step by step going forward.
‘…Like all ordinary people living in the light.’
Nodding, Harang smiled more deeply.
And stole his lover’s lips a third time. Sheratiya’s breakdown intensified, but that made him even more elated.
‘Nice.’
Harang looked at the sky.
The time when light and darkness mixed appropriately, turning golden.
Savoring Marzen’s most vibrant time, he turned to Sheratiya Viyan and said.
“Shall we go for a nice whiskey then?”
The Disaster-Level Assassin Has Been Freed, Complete -