Johanna couldn’t cry out in sorrow but instead bit her lips tightly as tears rolled down her cheeks.
Ray quietly stayed by her side, hoping that Johanna could ease the accumulated resentment.
With the situation unfolding this way, Delun found himself inadvertently in an awkward position.
Delun glanced around and then signaled to Ray with his fingers, indicating he would circle around and return.
As Ray nodded, Delun clicked his tongue and distanced himself.
Even after some time had passed, Johanna still couldn’t stop her crying.
If Ray had made a dull joke, perhaps she would have snapped angrily, mimicking irritation. But Ray stood silently beside her throughout.
“…”
To Ray, it seemed as if the hollow reproach from the vision of Johanna overlapped with her present sobbing.
The Johanna in the vision had blamed Ray endlessly.
Yes, Johanna’s blame was justified. Ray had thrown her into hell.
He thought he had provided Johanna with the foundation to bloom her talent, but in the end, all he did was wound her heart, chaining her before pushing her into an endless battlefield.
“…”
Suppressing his lost sense of direction and guilt, Ray waited for Johanna to calm herself.
It took quite some time before Johanna managed to steady her breathing.
Having finally stopped crying, she pulled out a handkerchief and wiped her disheveled face.
“Sniff…”
Embarrassment and awkwardness soon followed.
Johanna’s bloodshot eyes wandered aimlessly until she began rummaging through her bosom.
After all, she had already cried her heart out in front of Ray.
At this point, there was no need to hesitate about opening her storage compartment for fear of her emotions flaring up again.
Click
The necklace inside the storage was slightly different in design compared to the ones Johanna was familiar with.
Instead of a large gemstone, small ones were intricately woven together to form a pattern resembling a flower bud, and it was undeniably beautiful.
Johanna knew well that Ray had bought this necklace simply out of apology.
Still, she shamelessly extended the storage box toward Ray.
As Ray picked up the necklace and fastened it around Johanna’s neck, he spoke.
“It’s rather expensive, but not very durable. Wear it on occasions where you need to dress up.”
On purpose, Ray chose a delicate necklace that wasn’t too sturdy or structurally complex.
Ray didn’t want the necklace he gave to become a shackle for Johanna, something she’d cling to while reminiscing in the battlefield.
Thus, he gifted her a trinket that required careful handling.
However, such belated repentance in the form of gifts couldn’t completely erase the burdens he had placed upon her.
“…”
While Ray lapsed back into silence, Johanna honestly smiled.
It had been a long time since Ray had seen her smile so freely and brightly.
Feeling the texture of the necklace, Johanna spun around once.
After pondering for a moment, Ray finally said:
“It suits you well.”
“Does it…?”
Johanna, who had been smiling radiantly, felt slightly shy when their eyes met.
Thereafter, Ray and Johanna continued walking together, chatting along the streets.
As they walked, Johanna, staying close to Ray, asked cautiously,
“Are you coming with me to the baron’s territory?”
“I have some remaining tasks. You can go with Delun.”
“I thought so.”
Johanna lightly grumbled and poked Ray’s side.
“Do you have somewhere else to go this time?”
“There’s something I need to discuss in the Imperial Capital. What happens afterward is uncertain.”
“So, will I see you again when I come back from the baron’s territory?”
“Hmm, probably.”
The vacation period given to the Izhise students wasn’t particularly long.
But if no proper conclusion was reached by the time Johanna returned, attempting to conquer the Demonic Realm would be impossible.
Watching Johanna’s smiling face, Ray sighed, recalling Karen and Alesya who were currently in Phillip’s County.
‘Are they pregnant?’
Though he had already seen the faces of their daughters, Ray felt that if they didn’t have children yet, it might depress him.
Of course, even if they were expecting, his mind would remain restless.
“…”
Although this world doesn’t have a clear naming culture for unborn babies, many parents give affectionate nicknames to the child in their womb.
What should the nickname be? Calling one ‘Peevish’ and the other ‘Sloppy’ might sound appropriate, but doing so would surely get him beaten up.
If the Preches strike operation failed, after handling a few more matters, he could just head back to his hometown and spend time with his kids.
If that happened, how should he deal with Johanna? Ray hadn’t figured that out yet.
The image of her from childhood was deeply ingrained in Ray’s mind, but Johanna had grown into a lively and radiant woman.
And she was still lingering around Ray.
It was true that Ray had ineptly put up barriers, but he thought that would be enough.
In reality, while many people who had feelings for Ray in the baron’s territory eventually found their own partners, Johanna remained emotionally dependent on Ray, seeking deeper affection.
Despite being hurt while circling around Ray, she persisted.
“…”
For no reason, Ray massaged his brow.
This wasn’t something he needed to worry about now. After all, a conclusion regarding the Demonic Realm would be reached within a month.
If the consensus gathering failed, Ray would be granted a long vacation.
By then, it wouldn’t be too late to have a sincere conversation with Johanna.
Having organized his thoughts, Ray focused on walking with Johanna, whose face was bright with laughter, through the streets of the Imperial Capital.
About two hours later, Delun returned.
Johanna subtly hinted at Delun to leave, but Delun, suddenly finding himself kicked out, wasn’t in a good mood either and rudely inserted himself between them.
Even though Johanna openly glared at Delun in annoyance, he ignored her.
Seeing this, Ray chuckled lightly.
*
Saria was invited to the Vatican.
Despite being cursed, Saria had received continuous treatment, so there were no major issues with her body.
The Vatican should be able to remove the curse engraved on Saria.
If that proves difficult, they would at least provide a method to reliably counteract the curse’s effects.
A few members of the Alstein Dukedom accompanied Saria on her journey.
After seeing Saria off, Ray immediately turned to bid farewell to Johanna and Delun.
“Have a safe trip.”
While Ray exchanged farewells with Johanna and Delun,
Luna stood a step away, silent.
Johanna and Delun looked at Luna uneasily with somewhat uncomfortable expressions.
Although Luna usually wasn’t much of a talker, it was evident that she was sulking right now.
Had she fought with Ray? It was an image hard to imagine, but the atmosphere suggested that might indeed be the case.
Johanna and Delun indirectly added a wish for Ray and Luna to reconcile well before ending their farewells.
Johanna and Delun planned to use the Warp Gate.
Thanks to the privileges enjoyed by the Izhise students and their connection to Ray, they were granted such special benefits.
Ray waved goodbye carefully and watched the departing carriage before turning to look at Luna.
“Are you still mad?”
“…Ray.”
“Yeah.”
“…I can fix it.”
“Really… about 30 years?”
“…”
No matter how outstanding a genius someone might be… rather, precisely because they are an unparalleled genius, they harbor arrogance.
Future Luna confessed that she herself had been arrogant.
Pioneering a new path without any established milestones is something even a remarkable genius can struggle with.
Ray thought it would take at least half a century, if not more, for Luna to reach beyond what humanity had ever touched—around 60 years from now.
However, Luna claimed that observing and experiencing realms beyond human reach during her visit to the World Tree Forest greatly reduced her “wandering.”
Ray couldn’t tell if this was true or merely Luna’s arrogant delusion.
Even if it were true, it would still take 30 years to achieve the necessary purification level for the world.
How many of those already wounded in spirit could endure living under the red sky for 30 years?
Let alone those who would have to wield swords and immerse themselves in battles for 30 years—how pitiful their lives would be.
That’s why Ray couldn’t give up easily.
“…Ray.”
Luna, detecting Ray’s resolve in his eyes, spoke.
“Ray… if you fail, there’ll be no going back. We won’t win the war. Everyone you know will die horribly. There’s no need to take such risks. Ray, you’re clinging to bad choices.”
“…”
“Expanding the Demonic Realm will bring tough times, but we can survive them. Ray, trust me…”
Even though she was angry, Luna remained Luna.
She urged Ray to make a rational choice without resorting to frustration or emotional appeals.
However…
There was one thing Luna overlooked.
Contrary to her expectations… Ray was certain.
He was confident that if an army including multiple Lord-level entities was assembled, Preches could certainly be eliminated.
Even if he barely clung to life and returned only to collapse and die in the Imperial Capital, he believed it was possible.
“…”
Of course, the Demonic Realm was hell—it truly was.
The concentrated power of evil over thousands of years had transformed the Demonic Realm into a horrifying inferno.
Monstrous lumps of malevolence roamed aimlessly, screaming, obscuring mountains and skies with their massive forms, devoid of sanity.
Demon races who survived solely within the Demonic Realm also overflowed, wielding bizarre and powerful abilities.
The crimson-stained skies and cursed lands writhed like a single living organism, attacking intruders.
These aberrations made the Demonic Realm a terrible hell and blocked deep incursions.
And…
Most of them…
Were obliterated 600 years ago by Harshia.
Standing in a realm that touched beyond the stars, Harshia willingly sacrificed his life to enter this battlefield.
To the numerous calamities residing in the Demonic Realm, Harshia’s existence was truly catastrophic.
Harshia eradicated the millennia-old accumulation of evil in the Demonic Realm.
What Harshia destroyed 600 years ago couldn’t possibly have been fully restored by now.
Preches might have prepared various things diligently, but there must have been limits.
Ray wasn’t gambling or being careless.
Having inherited even a fragment of Harshia’s Nonagram, Ray was confident.
“…”
Luna detected not only intense certainty but also a faint joy in Ray’s eyes.
Joy…? What could possibly be joyful about heading towards a place where death awaits?
The patience Luna had intended to use to persuade Ray finally wavered with emotion.
“…Ray, are you happy?”
“…”
“Are you happy leaving us behind… leaving me behind? Are you satisfied? Is that joyous for you?”
“Hmm… Luna.”
Despite hearing Luna’s voice, which had grown piercingly cold, Ray smiled faintly.
Unfortunately, no matter how or where Ray died, he would ultimately have to ask something of Luna.
However, Ray didn’t want to burden Luna with too much.
He didn’t wish for Luna to fight alone for decades to fulfill his aspirations.
Ray decided not to convey this sentiment to Luna.
Misunderstanding it as a willingness to die for her was a possibility, wasn’t it?
Still smiling, Ray scratched the back of his neck and asked in return,
“Do you remember? The rainy day. That magician uncle came to take you away, right?”
It was the story of David.
Luna was around eight years old back then.
No matter how shocking the events, childhood memories tend to fade.
Recalling the hazy memory of that day, Ray continued.
“That magician was being a bit rough, so I sent him away.”
More accurately, the magician had targeted Luna’s heart, and Ray had used all his strength to kill him.
To kill the magician, Ray even activated Overdrive, nearly grinding his joints to pieces.
“While I was trying hard to send the magician away… do you think you saw my expression then? I probably looked calm.”
“…”
“What do you think my feelings were like then? Was I terrified, scared of possibly dying?”
Ray shook his head.
“No, I wasn’t thinking much. I wasn’t afraid or scared. Back then, I… couldn’t feel the fear of death. I had no attachment to life.”
At that time, Ray wasn’t entirely without things to lose.
Both in the past and present, Ray loved Bella as a mother and carried unerasable guilt.
However, back then, Ray lacked knowledge of the future and was in a dire situation, dealing with the constant nuisances of unruly youngsters in the baron’s territory.
Though he didn’t have suicidal thoughts, death seemed like a quite alluring escape.
Knowing little about the future meant having fewer regrets.
That’s why death wasn’t frightening.
“But, Luna.”
Ray confessed calmly.
“Now, I’m afraid of death.”
Unlike before, he was now afraid of death.
“I’m afraid of parting from you guys. I worry whether you’ll be alright after I’m gone. Constant attachments arise, but since I can’t turn back, it makes my chest tight.”
Ray continued to smile faintly and shrugged slightly.
“So, I am happy now. Because your existence has colored my life.”
Luna silently stared at Ray’s rambling for a long time.
Ray also remained still, feeling the breeze blowing.
At that moment, Adoia, a knight of the Prizzran Clan, approached Ray to report.
“The ‘Continental Conference’ will begin soon. You should head there now.”
It was earlier than expected.
After nodding, Ray was about to follow Adoia when Luna suddenly asked,
“Ray, do you remember? The rainy day.”
“Huh…?”
“That day, I asked you, why are you protecting me?”
“…”
“You were stroking my head with hands where blood mixed with rainwater was flowing down, and I asked, why are you protecting me?”
“…”
“Do you remember what you answered back then?”
After listening to Luna, Ray tried to recall but couldn’t remember clearly.
The conversation from over ten years ago had mostly faded from memory, leaving only vague traces.
Ultimately, unable to recall the answer, Ray sheepishly asked,
“Uh… I don’t remember clearly. What did I say?”
“To enjoy luxuries later.”
“…”
“When Luna becomes an excellent mage, wouldn’t some crumbs fall onto me?”
“…”
“That’s exactly what you said.”
Luna reproduced Ray’s cynical tone from that day perfectly before asking again,
“Do you remember now?”
“…”
Finally, Ray erased the smile from the corner of his mouth.
Then, looking up at the sky and taking a step toward Adoia, Ray briefly apologized.
“Sorry. That was a lie.”
Luna already knew.
And Luna was tired of Ray’s lies.
