Chapter 23

“I understand.”

“You understand? Really?”

“Yes. After what you’ve been through, how could you possibly hold up? But—”

The moment I finally gripped the dagger hidden in my embrace, I channeled all my mana without hesitation and lunged at Commander Balthazar.

*Thud—*

“Ugh…!”

With explosive speed, I charged forward and plunged the dagger into the center of Commander Balthazar’s throat—the deepest part. The reason I had been circulating mana throughout my body, pretending to warm myself, was for this very moment. I knew I had only one chance, so I was meticulous, leaving no room for error.

“The world isn’t wrong—it’s you, Commander.”

“Kairon… I, I am…!”

*Slash—*

Commander Balthazar couldn’t finish his sentence. I had already severed his head, letting it drop to the ground. His body collapsed with a thud, and his head rolled beside it. His bloodshot eyes, now detached from his body, gradually turned pale.

Though he probably couldn’t hear me anymore, I crouched in front of him and spoke clearly.

“I respected you. But it’s all so hollow now. To think everything I admired about you was just an act to fuel your madness…”

Commander Balthazar had called me a key asset, but the true core of the Vanguard was himself. The spiritual pillar. A mastermind who had coerced the entire world into cooperating with the Vanguard. With overwhelming power capable of easily taking on an entire nation.

“…It was because of you that we could hold on.”

The Vanguard could stand united in this cold, harsh wasteland, fending off the endless hordes of demons, all thanks to Commander Balthazar, the ideal leader. But no matter how great a leader he was, once I learned of his dark intentions, I couldn’t let him continue.

At least this way, he would be remembered as a righteous hero betrayed and killed by his wicked subordinate.

I left Commander Balthazar’s cold, lifeless body behind without hesitation and turned away. It pained me to think his wife would soon witness this scene, but there was no other choice. I had to leave this place immediately.

“Feeling relieved, Kairon?”

“…!”

I doubted my ears. The voice was unnaturally calm. And it came from a completely different direction. I turned my head and was at a loss for words.

“How…?!”

Commander Balthazar, holding a beautifully arranged fruit platter, walked out from the house into the yard.

“Disappointing. Did you really think I’d be taken down so easily?”

“I clearly severed your head.”

“You did. But that wasn’t me.”

Commander Balthazar gestured lightly toward his own decapitated body and head rolling on the ground.

“Care to see?”

At his words, the body and head burst into purple flames and vanished in an instant.

“…Magic?”

“Indeed. As you well know, I’ve lived a life far removed from magic, but the power bestowed upon me by the god I serve is none other than the power of magic.”

Commander Balthazar sat at a table in the yard and placed the platter down.

“Take a seat. I promise I won’t harm you. At least not today.”

“Do you really think I’d willingly sit and talk with you?”

“I didn’t give you a choice. Even you can’t escape now.”

As soon as Commander Balthazar spoke, a faint purple aura enveloped the entire house.

“Sit.”

“…”

I had no choice. For the sake of what was to come, I had to sit.

“Honestly, I sensed it from the beginning. The moment you came to report after dealing with Rajeing, I suspected there was something off about the way you looked at me.”

“If you knew, why did you let me live? You could’ve dealt with me sooner.”

“Suspicion and certainty are different. After that, you handled Sophia, who was hiding, and subdued Benedict, who had been tempted, without hesitation. That’s when I became certain. And—”

Commander Balthazar picked up a piece of beautifully cut fruit with a fork and handed it to me.

“Take a bite. Let’s continue leading the Vanguard together.”

“What?”

“I said let’s continue together. Didn’t I tell you? At least for today, I won’t harm you. Here, take it.”

Commander Balthazar kept acting strangely kind toward me. But the fruit offered by the man who had just betrayed me wasn’t worth accepting.

When I didn’t take the fork, Commander Balthazar’s expression hardened.

“Let me say this one last time. If you don’t eat this fruit, I’ll kill one of my children.”

“…!”

I immediately snatched the fork from his hand. The chilling expression I had just seen made me instinctively feel something inhuman.

“Don’t push me too hard. I told you, didn’t I? I have no intention of letting this world fall quickly. On the contrary, I plan to help resist the demons even more fiercely and fight to the very end.”

“Is it because it wouldn’t be fun if it ended too quickly?”

“Exactly. Besides, I too was born and raised in this world. It’s only right that I take responsibility until the end.”

“…Then what if?”

I shoved the fruit into my mouth. Since I couldn’t kill the traitor before me, I vented my frustration by chewing the fruit into pieces and swallowing it.

“What if the god you serve and the demons fail to destroy this world?”

At my question, Commander Balthazar shook his head leisurely.

“There’s no need to entertain such doubts. The demons will grow endlessly stronger. Far beyond what you can imagine.”

“It won’t be that easy.”

*Bang—*

I slammed the fork into the table with force.

“As you know, I’ve already killed two hidden demons. That’s just the beginning. I’ll hunt down every one I see from now on. And if I get the chance…”

I drew my dagger again and pointed it at Commander Balthazar.

“I’ll eliminate you too.”

“Haha, go ahead.”

“Excuse me?”

“I promise. From now on, I won’t interfere with your demon hunts.”

Commander Balthazar smiled contentedly and added.

“It’ll be quite entertaining. You must do it. Absolutely.”

“…You’re truly insane. You’ll regret this.”

“There’s nothing to regret. The end is inevitable, so as long as I can enjoy the show, that’s all that matters. You may leave now.”

As soon as Commander Balthazar spoke, the purple aura surrounding the house vanished. I quickly stood up, fearing he might change his mind.

“By the way.”

“Didn’t you say I could leave?”

“Just one more question. It seems you can see the blessing bestowed by the god. How did you come to see it?”

A scene flashed in my mind—the divine energy that had flowed into me just before my regression. But there was no reason to tell Commander Balthazar.

“I don’t know.”

“Is that so? I have a guess. To the great beings I serve, we are nothing but insignificant creatures. Farewell, Kairon.”

“I’ll take my leave now. Please tell your wife her skills were truly impressive today.”

That was my cue to leave. I walked out of Commander Balthazar’s house without looking back. And with clenched teeth, I made a resolution.

Someday, without fail.

I will eliminate that traitor.

***

“Welcome. I knew you’d come.”

Commander Balthazar, sitting in the yard, slowly stood up to greet the late guest.

“Where’s Kairon?”

“He just left. Come in. My wife has set aside plenty of food for you. But before you go in, let me say one thing…”

Commander Balthazar spoke with a somber expression and tone.

“Something is clearly wrong with Kairon now. Don’t you feel it too?”

“…I’ve also noticed he’s changed suddenly.”

“If two people feel the same way, it adds weight to the hypothesis. I feel it, and so do you. The Kairon we know now is not the same. Perhaps…”

Commander Balthazar paused before speaking heavily.

“He might be connected to the demons.”

“What…?”

“How else could he so easily find and eliminate hidden demons? Of course, it’s still just a hypothesis. But it’s worth considering. That’s why your role is even more crucial now.”

Commander Balthazar gripped the guest’s hands firmly with both of his.

“If he’s heading down the wrong path, you’re the only one who can stop him. I beg you, Abelin.”

“…”

Abelin looked down at Commander Balthazar’s hands gripping hers. After a moment of deep thought, she answered.

“I’ll fulfill my duty. As a member of the Vanguard.”

“Good, that’s the spirit. That’s exactly the spirit…!”

Abelin, with her head bowed, didn’t see it. The way Commander Balthazar’s eyes burned with a purple flame as he spoke.

But Commander Balthazar also missed something. The way Abelin, while vowing to fulfill her duty, couldn’t hide her displeasure and frowned at his words.