novelraw Chapter 57.2: Episode 1 (2)
Chapter 57.2: Episode 1 (2)
Translator: Dreamscribe
The continued attacks from the heroes caused the Core of Erosion unbearable pain. It screamed, begging for it to stop. Jinwoo did not stop.
[Uh, uhhh..., uh....]
Jinwoo, who had been controlling the black skull, realized that the Core of Erosion had reached its limit. The screams, which no one else could hear, gradually quieted down.
It was stuttering, as if it had malfunctioned.
Kwaduduk!
Cracks began to spread across the entire Core of Erosion.
It could no longer withstand the heroes’ attacks.
Clang!
The will of Erosion, which Jinwoo had forcibly held together, was shattering. At the same time, Erosion gradually began to disappear from the Lost Land.
Jinwoo did not simply let the Core of Erosion go. Chains flowing out from the Soul Gate coiled around the Core of Erosion. The completely subdued Core of Erosion was bound by the Soul Gate.
“There must be another way to use you.”
[Kyaaaaaa!]
With a final scream, the Core of Erosion completely collapsed.
How long had he waited for this moment?
It was exhilarating.
It was so satisfying that he couldn’t help but laugh. But a heaviness sank in one corner of his heart. There were too many precious things that could never be recovered by such revenge.
As the will within the core was sucked into the Soul Gate, a light burst out from the Core of Erosion.
It was a light Jinwoo hadn’t expected.
That light was incredibly warm.
‘This is...’
The light covered Jinwoo’s vision and wrapped around his body. The fragments of the collapsing black skull, even the completely shattered Core of Erosion, all froze in that moment.
It felt as if his consciousness had been pulled into another space.
Was it a space the Core of Erosion had occupied?
Was it a power triggered by the Soul Gate?
It was still unclear.
What spread out before his eyes was a white space.
A vast white space with no horizon in sight. Jinwoo stood there for a moment, gazing into the white expanse. Strangely, he felt at ease.
It felt like coming home.
He sensed presences behind him.
So many presences. Then came laughter he could never forget.
“......”
Jinwoo’s eyes trembled violently.
His fists clenched on their own. His breathing grew rough, and his heart pounded wildly. His vision blurred and cleared repeatedly from the intense beating.
Jinwoo let out a long breath and barely managed to calm his trembling body. Then, he slowly turned around.
His lips trembled.
He had imagined this moment more than a thousand times.
He had even practiced for it.
But now, he couldn’t think of a single thing to say as his mind went completely blank. Despite being a Archmage, his thoughts were paralyzed by emotion. The emotional control magic circle he had placed on his chest had long since shattered.
Standing before his eyes were countless people.
Now colorless, translucent souls, standing before him just like they once had.
He saw the merchant who had given him all the magic stone chunks. Without him, the Magic Barrier could never have been created.
There were the knight captain and knights who had held back the Erosion Legion until the Magic Barrier was erected. There were also the mages who had believed in his claim and devoted everything to the Magic Tower.
The king he had spent decades with had, in his final moments, become a massive wall to send only Jinwoo to the remaining land. Jinwoo had no choice but to erect the Magic Barrier while watching their backs.
Thud!
Jinwoo fell to his knees. His upper body collapsed forward.
“...I’m sorry.”
Those were the first words that came out.
It had taken far too long.
He had once tried to give up. Crushed by despair, he had tried to run away in hopeless surrender. That had become a big nail piercing his chest. He had reached this place after over a hundred years, using all the history they had left behind.
Perhaps, he had even dishonored their nobility.
“I’m truly sorry. I...”
Moisture gathered on the back of Jinwoo’s hand.
The Archmage, who had never once broken down over all those long years, collapsed here. He poured out every emotion he had held back and suppressed all this time.
Swiik!
The king approached Jinwoo, knelt down, and grasped his shoulders.
“Your game... it was quite fun.”
Jinwoo slowly lifted his head.
The king was smiling brightly, a refreshing smile on his face.
“Well done.”
The king helped Jinwoo to his feet.
“Don’t think of it as a dishonoring of history. I’ve always regarded you as my son. SSo Leon would be my son too. Besides, all of it truly happened, didn’t it?”
“......”
"Thanks to you, I seem to have some popularity among the heroes too...."
Laughter burst from the comrades behind the king.
Thousands of knights laughed together. They were the ones who had become a wall of humanity before the Magic Barrier was raised. They were the great heroes who had protected Arsilan.
“From the moment you brought light to the Land of Erosion, we were able to rest.”
They had endured the torture of Erosion without falling to corruption. So that when Jinwoo finally arrived on this land, they would not become his enemies.
Because of that, their souls had lost all color. They had faded into nothingness.
A hundred years.
It was too long.
It had taken so very long.
“Take pride in the great game you created.”
The king patted his shoulder.
They had watched everything about Jinwoo. From the moment he brought light to the Land of Erosion until now, they had seen it all.
The knights who had stood behind the king approached Jinwoo.
“We’ve finally come to understand what this thing you called a game really is.”
“It was quite an intriguing story.”
“Kuh! I’m telling you, I actually cried. It was moving.”
Jinwoo looked at them and smiled. As he barely managed to smile, the knights smiled back at him.
When the king raised his hand, all fell silent.
“One last time, we wish to take part in this thing you call a game.”
“But..., your souls will collapse. If that happens....”
Because they had endured for too long, because they had suffered terrible torture, their souls were already at their limit.
“You all..., you can’t return to Ella’s side. Ella went missing..., b-but I’ll find a way, I’ll research somehow...!”
The king looked at Jinwoo as if asking what nonsense he was saying. He pointed upward. Jinwoo raised his head and looked up. There, the Soul Gate was positioned.
“That is where we shall return. It looks more comfortable than even Ella’s embrace. Our souls will serve as good nourishment for Arsilan.”
Jinwoo couldn’t say a word.
There was nothing he could offer to repay those who had endured for so long.
The king met Jinwoo’s gaze.
It was a profoundly serious moment.
“When will Leon come back to life?”
“Huh?”
“Go get ready first. We’ve got to play a round together.”
As Jinwoo blinked at the king’s words, he smirked, then looked at the knights and soldiers, and the many souls of Arsilan.
“If not for Erosion, I would have been a wretched king who ruined the nation’s economy! But precisely because of that, I know how to have a good time!”
The king pointed to the side.
There, the Lost Land spread out. And beyond that, Arsilan could be seen.
“Heroes! Let us play one last time with our saviors!”
Uaaaaa!
Everyone shouted with joy.
Flash!
Jinwoo’s vision returned to normal. The light bursting from the black skull split the sky and descended to the ground.
The heroes were greatly startled by the light that suddenly appeared beside them. That light became the king, then became mages. It turned into countless knights and soldiers.
“Huh?”
“The king? It is! Whoa!”
The heroes who recognized the king’s figure were overjoyed.
The king was indeed very popular.
[Heroes! Thanks to you, we were freed from the Lord of Erosion!]
The king drew his sword.
Then the legion of souls all raised their weapons.
[My son asked me to entrust you with this. We shall lend you the strength to face that great enemy!]
The king’s voice was bold and gallant.
In the past, it had been no different when facing the Legion of Erosion. The king glanced to his side, then looked toward Jinwoo.
Beside the king, the space was empty.
Jinwoo let out a small smile at the sight and gently shook his head.
“The scenario got twisted weirdly.”
Other players who had suddenly joined had tangled up the scenario. And yet, it brought him immense joy. Jinwoo released the seal and summoned Leon’s body. After casting a spell to make him appear in soul form, he imbued the body.
The control of the black skull was entrusted to Hallon.
Flash!
As Leon appeared in a burst of light beside the king, the heroes clenched their fists and cheered. The king and Jinwoo looked at each other.
[Prince Leon has arrived!]
[All the light in the world will be with us!]
[The Holy Sword is with us!]
The knights shouted like that.
They were fully immersed in the game.
It was embarrassing.
Jinwoo’s face turned red, but he barely managed to hide it.
The king raised a sword blazing with light and pointed at the black skull.
[People of Arsilan!]
The king called out to the Arsilan people.
The Arsilan people standing behind the heroes were in tears. Shedding tears from overwhelming emotion, they nodded and shouted. Though their cries were mixed with sobs, they were not sad.
[Heroes of Light!]
Uaaaaaa!
The heroes also let out a great cheer mixed with joy and exhilaration. The king looked at Jinwoo. Jinwoo drew the Holy Sword, which radiated a beautiful light.
As always, the king faced forward with a refreshing smile.
[Let us all advance together! For Arsilan!]
“For Arsilan!”
“For Arsilan!”
The king’s cry became thunder and swept across the surroundings. Everyone charged toward the black skull with one heart.
For the game they would share one last time, and for Arsilan.
*****
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