Chapter 9.2
Luis stared at Kotei with wide eyes, frozen in place. Cold sweat ran down his back as he slowly turned toward his sleeping daughter.In the presence of the baron, every soldier knelt instinctively.
"The Baron... he feels stronger than before?" one of the soldiers thought, a chill running down his spine. Tremors overtook his body.
Kotei's blue hair shimmered under the light as his cold gaze softened into a faint, relaxed smile. In a place once consumed by chaos, his boots pressed against ashes still warm from fire. The smell of smoke lingered heavily in the air.
Luis couldn't tear his eyes away from Kotei. Even if he wanted to — he couldn't. It was like staring at a king, or perhaps an emperor, looking mercifully upon his people.
A radiant golden aura surrounded Kotei. Beautiful yet suffocating.Almost every human nearby bowed, trembling and sweating, their spines stiff with fear.
Luis and Noa stood frozen, watching as the baron's smile widened. He looked almost amused — as if something had caught his interest. Slowly, he began walking toward the boat.
With every step, the pressure grew heavier. The soldiers' vision blurred, their hands shook, and sweat drenched their armor.
He walked past them, head held high, and stepped onto the boat. Closing his eyes, he smiled and raised his hand."Hello," said the Baron casually.
"H-hello," Luis replied, forcing a smile, sweat dripping down his face like rain.
Kotei's gaze shifted toward the child beside him."Hello, little human," he said gently. "You look sad. Why is that?"
Noa remained silent, his eyes hollow — as if nothing in the world could change how he felt."Your silence already told me," Kotei replied softly. Then, turning to his men, he ordered, "Bring their relatives to my mansion."
The soldiers stood instantly."Yes, sir!"
They unsheathed their hilts — and in a flash, elemental blades materialized from pure mana.Lifting Mary's stretcher, they followed Kotei. Luis carried Kyrai in his arms, while Noa silently walked beside them.
Upon reaching the mansion, Mary was taken to the medics. Luis tried to follow, but Kotei placed a hand on his shoulder and shook his head."No. You're coming with me."
Luis nodded reluctantly.He handed his daughter to an elven maid, who rushed her to the infirmary.
Soon after, Kotei led Luis and Noa into a vast training hall."Well," he said, turning toward them, "whatever you planned to do doesn't matter. From this day on, you are both... my disciples."
Noa's expression lit up faintly, but Luis looked in disbelief."Me? A human using magic? I can't even cast simple healing spells," Luis said bitterly, eyes drifting toward the shadows.
Kotei chuckled."When did I ever say I only teach magic?" he said, scratching the back of his neck with a grin. "I'll teach you swordsmanship, human."
Luis's eyes regained a spark of life. He clenched his fist, dropped to one knee, and bowed."Yes, my master," he said with determination.
'I'll play along. He'll train me, trust me, and when the time comes… I'll use that to take my revenge.'
Kotei turned to Noa, who stood silently, his small hands trembling."And what about you, little one? Do you accept being my disciple?"
"If... if you can make me strong enough to protect the people I..."Flashes of his parents sacrificing themselves filled Noa's mind. Tears streamed down his face."...to protect the ones I love."
Kotei smiled warmly and nodded."Yes. I can."
He placed a hand on Noa's head."From this day forward, you are my disciple—and my son. Tell me your name."
"Noa... my name is Noa," the boy whispered.
"Then from today onward, you'll be known as Hikari Noa."
Noa's eyes widened as he hugged his new father.
"Well then," Kotei said with a smirk, "let's begin our training."
The three of them trained inside the grand hall, bathed in sunlight streaming through crystal walls, almost everything within built from solid mana.
In the Dead Forest, among broken trees and mud, the Nameless King awoke — his body pierced by branches and pain.He groaned as he pulled the splinters from his flesh, trying to stand, but his body shook uncontrollably.
He leaned on his sword for support, dragging himself through the gray, lifeless forest toward the King of Death.
'Why... why am I trembling? Peace was right there, yet I'm afraid of it?'His own thoughts mocked him as rain began to fall, washing blood and dirt from his wounds.
Too weak to continue, he fell face-first into the muddy ground, sitting there — consumed by frustration and self-loathing.
When the rain ceased, he tried to move again, limping deeper into the shadows. The cold gnawed at him.'I, who brought death to so many... am now afraid of my own peace? Pathetic.'
As he struggled to breathe, his vision dimmed.He heard soft footsteps — not of a beast, but of two people.
Light brushed across his face, blinding him to theirs.Unable to move, he sank into darkness once more.
Elsewhere, Poul sat on a fallen tree, rain falling around him.Days had passed since the march to the wall.
'We've slain every giant we've faced… yet I wonder—why do we stain this beautiful world with blood?'
He looked at his clean hands.'They may look clean now, but they're drenched in blood — in vengeance. I don't regret it… but my only remorse is what that vengeance cost me.'
As he pondered, the clouds parted slightly, sunlight piercing through the rain. Poul's eyes widened at the beauty of it.
'And still, I'll spill more blood in this beautiful world.'
When the rain stopped, the birds began to sing, the forest coming alive again.
Returning to camp, Poul watched the soldiers packing up. The wind rustled through the trees, mixing with the faint hum of nature.
"Captain Poul!" one of his soldiers called."Yes?""What motivates you to train every day? To live with such discipline?"
Poul chuckled, continuing to dismantle his tent.'If I told him the truth, he wouldn't understand... but fine.'
He turned to the soldier, who looked at him eagerly."Alright, you win," Poul said, smiling faintly.
"My reason is simple — to protect humanity from the monsters that threaten it. I don't want any of you dying for my goal. That's why I fight."
The soldier's eyes shone with admiration. "That's... just like the heroes from the old tales!"
'If only you knew I was lying.'
Once camp was packed, the army continued its march. As Poul walked, memories of his hometown flooded back — bittersweet nostalgia tearing at his chest.His wife's face appeared in his mind — the one he lost in the war.
By dusk, they set camp beneath a small hill.Fires flickered, soldiers laughed and drank, savoring peace before the next storm.
Above them, on the hill, Poul sat beneath a tree, eyes closed, listening to the wind.
'How long will this peace last? ...Something's calling me.'He looked up at the moon, bathed in silver light.
'Our destiny must be close.'
He laughed quietly, running a hand through his hair.'I'm probably losing my mind.'
Closing his eyes, he drifted into sleep — until a faint voice echoed in his mind.
"Poul... please... don't go. Don't go to—"
He awoke suddenly, drenched in sweat, eyes trembling.A new day had begun