Chapter 281

“So, who is that sister? Are you really not going to tell me?”

Even so, playing board games all day isn’t something you can do forever. Before physical exhaustion, one’s mental stamina is finite. Taking a short break, the two drank some beverages to replenish their energy.

Lucia Western. The last descendant of the Western Family. The inheritor of the Demon Hunter clan suddenly felt her situation was pitiful. Except for when she was very young, she had never truly immersed herself in such games. It wasn’t that she disliked games. It was just that her family’s duties were more important.

To become an outstanding Demon Hunter, she had trained tirelessly since childhood and had her own pride. Among her siblings, she was the most exceptional, and she had faith in herself. Having spent her childhood more harshly than other children, she believed that there would be a reward for it when she grew up.

Considering she reached the level of Master at a young age, it was hard to say her faith was entirely misplaced, but she herself didn’t think so. Lucia Western believed her life was already ruined. Originally, she was the epitome of self-discipline, spending her free time maintaining her weapons rather than wasting it on games.

But now, she resented herself for living that way. Looking back at what remained after living so diligently, there was still something left. Friendship.

At least, she still had two comrades. Other than that, there was truly nothing left. Everything she had built through effort crumbled so easily. A person can’t put in that kind of effort more than once in a lifetime.

Now, could she train step by step like she did when she was young and regain what she had lost? She had long since thrown such futile hopes into the trash.

So, the impending destruction didn’t scare her. In fact, she felt a strange thrill. Even with destruction looming, she felt somewhat cheerful, perhaps because of that mindset.

“Why are you keeping your mouth shut like that? The world’s about to end anyway, why keep people curious? Is that sister some kind of imperial princess or something?”

Startled. The lion, who had been silently smiling, twitched its ears. Lucia’s eyes sparkled as she noticed this. As the inheritor of the Western Family, she had mastered the family’s vast knowledge.

Even though the Black Steel Qi restricted her magical power by occupying her meridians, the knowledge in her head remained intact. Lie detection and interrogation were basic skills for anyone from the Western Family, so reading the truth from Leon’s expression wasn’t difficult.

“Uncle, you really can’t lie. I didn’t expect you to react like that the moment I mentioned it.”

She didn’t expect her to actually be a princess, but what could she do? Someone with nothing left to lose isn’t afraid of anything. Should she run out and bow to the princess who left? In a world about to end, what would groveling achieve?

“Then, Uncle, you must not be an ordinary person either. Who are you? Should I guess?”

“You probably won’t guess. I’m nothing now.”

Instead, she asked about the identity of the mysterious beast-man who had been her board game opponent. The lion just shook his head slightly and smiled. But there was no strength in that smile.

Lucia’s question was just casual; she had no intention of probing the man’s identity. There wasn’t enough time to enjoy all the things she hadn’t done or avoided. She didn’t have the luxury to worry about others’ affairs.

“Someone of your status coming here to play cards must mean you have your own story. Everyone says the world is about to end, and this time it seems real. How do you feel about it?”

“About what?”

“How do you feel? Sad? Angry? Or have you already given up?”

The destruction of the world is shocking and painful, but everyone reacts differently. In a time when everyone has no choice but to accept destruction, the emotion she saw most was despair. She knew best the feeling of crying while wondering what meaning their lives had and what they had been striving for.

Long before the talk of the world’s destruction, she had already felt that way when the Demon King trampled her clan. And when she went to the Polaris Fortress for revenge, she despaired a second time.

When the Demon King who came for them trampled her once more, she was already broken beyond repair. Multiplying negative by negative results in a positive, so when she heard the world was ending, she actually felt relieved.

No matter how powerful the Demon King is, no matter how overwhelming his magical power and presence, even he can’t do anything against these flesh beasts that are like a natural calamity. He will perish with them.

She had already accepted the inevitable destruction. In fact, she had gone beyond that and found peace. It was only after hearing the world was ending that she found inner peace and tranquility.

Even if they didn’t share her twisted emotions, everyone at this party probably thought the same. They all gathered here to enjoy the final moments, so at least they had accepted the destruction.

Those who couldn’t accept the destruction and were filled with rage had no reason to be here. So, even without hearing the answer, she already anticipated what he would say.

“Miss. The world isn’t going to end.”

But what came out was truly unexpected.

“Because the gods are watching over this world.”

At those words, Lucia frowned and looked back at the lion, who was casually munching on a piece of meat. He showed no concern or worry for the future.

He hadn’t accepted destruction and found peace within it. He simply denied destruction itself. She didn’t like his attitude.

It might feel good to deny reality, but it’s just that—denial. Gods? Suddenly talking about gods? Did he think some savior would appear and save the world?

“Just in case, are you saying you’re a god in human form, or a child of a god, or something like that? Forget it. I’ve heard that so much my ears are calloused. You’re not the only one saying that these days, are you?”

When life is hard and the world is shaking, what appears are prophets. Prophets, but somewhat false ones. She didn’t believe the words of those who deceived the masses, even though she had hit rock bottom.

In her eyes, those people were born at the wrong time. What are they supposed to do when the world is really about to end? In the past, they might have become true gods with people’s faith and achieved their desires. But now, neither gods nor Demon Kings can overcome the disaster before them.

The Three God Faith couldn’t even touch the Polymorph Curse on the Western Family. By then, she no longer believed in gods. Nothing had ever turned out well by believing in them.

Like all curses, if it can’t be broken from the outside, there are only two ways: the caster releases it, or the caster is killed. The Three God Faith suggested the second path to her.

If they killed the Demon King Grimudo, somehow succeeded, then the Polymorph Curse would be lifted. It wasn’t even certain if that would really happen. Not all curses weaken or break just because the caster dies.

It was just a desperate suggestion. She believed their words and tried to defeat the Demon King, but it was something beyond human capability. It was around that time she became irreverent towards the Three God Faith.

These people couldn’t even find a solution when their own saint, Araidel, became a canary. She began to doubt what they were even doing. With such experiences, it was no wonder she reacted poorly to talk of gods.

“This place is too noisy, and people keep shaking the floor. Everyone’s enjoying themselves, and the music and dancing never stop. Maybe that’s why no one noticed,”

But despite her cold expression, the lion smiled faintly. He remembered his lord and the priest who had gone to the Arctic. He didn’t know if they had truly accomplished something, but they were the only ones who could have caused this change.

Leon had believed in them from the start. There was nothing else he could do. And they had lived up to that belief splendidly.

“Feel it. The ground isn’t shaking anymore.”

The seismic tremors that had been ringing like a bell had stopped. Was any more explanation needed?

Realizing that the abnormal was returning to normal didn’t require anything more. The gods didn’t announce the end of the disaster with a rainbow. It didn’t rain flowers from the sky. No supernatural phenomena occurred.

That was enough. The earth returned to stillness.

It didn’t take long for people to realize it.