There are times when good people turn evil when pushed to the limit, and there are times when bad people turn good for the sake of those they love.
Judas never claimed himself to be a saint.
Even the noble Spirit King himself committed atrocious acts in the name of his people.
The world is never as simple as black and white.
There are moments when desperation takes hold, forcing people to do things they would never normally consider.
But in this case, Judas was not desperate.
He had already lost everything.
The only thought that lingered in his mind was revenge—and enacting it in the most satisfying way possible.
"They say revenge is a dish best served cold."
Judas muttered as he watched the red dragon writhe in agony, his gaze cold and merciless.
"But I don't agree. The people who say that are idiots who don't know just how satisfying revenge can be."
『Miracle Heal』
A glowing magic circle flared in his hand as Judas cast the spell, rapidly sealing the dragon's wounds.
Yet there was no relief in its eyes, no joy at the sudden recovery.
Instead, the dragon trembled as its body knit together, its gaze wide with fear.
It spread its wings, trying desperately to flee, but Judas smirked at the pitiful attempt.
"Even a monster like you knows fear. Hilarious."
He stretched out his arm.
『Earth Spikes』
The ground rumbled violently as jagged spikes of stone burst upward, tearing through the dragon's body.
Its anguished roar split the skies—but to Judas, the sound was music.
There was no grand, heroic clash between man and dragon.
Nor was there an emotional flashback where he would recall bittersweet memories.
Only the endless cycle of healing and torture, over and over again.
"Its combat ability is around mid to high level four, but its breath attack... in terms of raw firepower, that's level six."
"To anyone weaker than a first-class adventurer, this thing is nothing short of a natural disaster."
"Unfortunately for you, your opponent is me."
At first, the dragon fought ferociously, giving Judas a chance to measure its strength.
But no matter how violently it struggled, he shrugged off every attack like they were nothing.
He offered no mercy, no escape.
Death was denied, replaced by a slow, deliberate erosion of will.
Hours passed. The dragon no longer resisted. Its body lived, but its eyes were hollow.
'I'm running out of mana.'
With that thought, Judas decided to end it.
"You're lucky. If I still had my abilities as Estelon, I would've made sure you suffered for eternity."
The dragon didn't cry, didn't roar—it only stared back in silence, almost grateful that it was finally over.
Judas clenched his fist. The earth spikes surged larger, tearing the dragon apart and scattering its body across the battlefield.
Its severed head rolled to his feet. Judas stared at it for a long moment before stomping it, shattering the skull.
He made no move to harvest its mana crystal. He wanted the corpse to remain, denied the dignity of fading to ash.
"It's over."
He muttered.
"Mom, Dad, everyone... I did it. I avenged you all."
Yet once the deed was done, emptiness settled in his chest, as though a hole had been carved into his heart.
He pressed a hand to it, feeling the steady beat beneath, and took a long breath to steady himself.
In the distance, a massive tornado reached into the heavens.
Judas recognized it instantly.
"That must be where the One-Eyed Black Dragon is sealed."
Even from here, he could sense it—the terrifying presence that lurked within. A calamity in the shape of a creature. The final boss of Danmachi, the Black Dragon of ancient times.
"Well, it has nothing to do with me. Bell Cranel will eventually grow strong enough to defeat it anyway."
Showing no concern, Judas turned back toward what was left of his village.
Night had already fallen, but he did not sleep. Instead, he carried the dead and buried them one by one.
When the final shovel hit the dirt, his clothes were drenched in sweat and soil, but he didn't stop until the work was done.
The village had become a graveyard. He sat quietly beside his parents' resting place.
"Mom, Dad... I'm sorry I couldn't protect you. I'm sorry for being such a useless son."
"If I had stayed, maybe I could've stopped that dragon. Maybe everyone would still be alive."
"This is all my fault. All of it."
Judas wanted to cry, but there were no tears left.
He was exhausted, filthy, sore in every muscle.
"Mom, Dad... I'm going to Orario. There's nothing left for me here."
He rose unsteadily, and when he looked up, dawn was breaking.
His preparations were minimal. After cleaning himself, Judas glanced back at the village one last time before heading west.
Toward Orario.
'Mika...'
Her face filled his mind.
'There were 120 bodies buried. Including the elves and myself, the village had 122 people.'
It was a small, close-knit place. Everyone knew everyone.
He had expected to bury 121 corpses. But no matter how hard he searched, Mika's was nowhere to be found.
'That means... either she survived, or she burned so completely that nothing remained.'
'I can't use Chrono Replay again. My body won't withstand it.'
Even so, he came to a conclusion.
'She might be alive.'
The odds were uncertain, but higher than zero.
He searched for any sign, but there was nothing. No blood, no hair, not even ashes.
It was as though she had been erased from existence.
Strangely, this did not drive him to panic. Instead, a calm sense of relief settled in his chest.
'Let's trust in her abilities.'
His heart was steady, its rhythm soothing his frayed mind.
'We will meet again.'
That was why he would go to Orario. To rise. To carve his name into the world, so that one day Mika would find him again.
'But first...'
His stomach growled.
"I'm hungry."
He hunted a rabbit, cooked and ate it, then took to the skies, leaving the Alvs Mountains behind.
To avoid unnecessary monsters, he only landed once he reached a safe road, taking his time walking, sightseeing along the way.
By the time the sun sat directly overhead, he realized he had been walking for hours.
'High noon already?'
His ears twitched at the sound of a carriage approaching.
He raised a hand to signal the driver.
"Can I get a ride? I'm heading to Orario."
He asked, idly juggling a few coins.
"Alright, get in," the bearded driver replied.
Judas climbed aboard.
Several passengers were already seated, but two in particular caught his eye.
For a moment, astonishment flickered in his gaze.
'They look like a mother and daughter... but the one on the left. If I'm not mistaken...'
'Is that Bell Cranel?'
White hair. Red eyes. A rabbit-like innocence. There was only one person he could think of.
But there was one problem.
'Why is she a girl?'