Chapter 489

Crackling sounds of wood burning filled the air.

“Lord Dwenno, please have a drink!”

“Ah, thank you.”

“Miss Aron as well!”

“Ah, yes!”

Guardstron was a city with many festivals.

In these contemporary times, when the world seems to race toward destruction, the victorious news of heroes standing against Erebus and Tartarus was enough to make people ecstatic.

For a brief moment, the uncertainty of when the world might end subsides.

But today’s festival was not one of celebration for a victory.

“Everyone, please gather!”

Lady Luna, ascending onto the podium, raised her glass.

“By tomorrow, we will embark on our final journey to exterminate Erebus!”

The extermination of Erebus — a wish for all people in the world, once too delicate to speak of.

Luna mentioned it with a light tone and continued,

“Of course, many must feel anxious.”

As Luna’s expression turned serious, the festive atmosphere gradually cooled.

But amidst the chilling mood, Luna smirked.

“But trust us! We’ll save the world! We’ll reclaim the blue sky from that damned fireball and the beautiful stars!”

“Whoohoo!”

“And I may just become known as the greatest wizard in history! Here’s a toast to me, Lady Luna, the soon-to-be greatest wizard in history!”

“Toasting!”

Luna’s proclamation dispelled the heavy atmosphere.

As he watched the people raising their toasts, Kyle voiced his thoughts.

“Why entrust such a critical speech to her of all people?”

“She’s best at livening up the mood.”

Sipping his drink next to Kyle, Lissinas grinned faintly and replied,

“Having Dwenno speak would result in bizarre comments, and Aron would likely be too nervous to utter a word. As for you, you would likely ruin the festive mood. I wouldn’t be a fit choice either.”

“It might be our last festival before we d*e. We should enjoy it.”

“That’s a morbid comment again.”

“Kyle, Kyle! Do you really think this expedition will fail?”

Approaching them suddenly, Dwenno clicked his tongue in disapproval and Aron looked uneasy.

“What are you guys talking about?”

Having finished her speech, Luna questioned with a puzzled expression.

“That this festival might be the last one.”

“Why would it be the last? We just need to take Erebus out, right?”

“Yeah, the world will surely be saved, Kyle.”

As Luna and Lissinas looked at Kyle with expressions that implied the success was certain, Kyle averted his gaze and replied,

“I just wish that were the case.”

“Why keep ruining the mood? You infuriating man.”

“What should we do if you agree now, huh?”

Luna grabbed Kyle and shook him while Lissinas gave him a cold glare.

“Come on, let’s move on and enjoy the festival. Is this your usual behavior, anyway?”

Smack!

Dwenno struck the back of Kyle’s head with his thick hand.

“You d*mn dwarf. You say you hit softly, but it still hurts.”

“I hit you to make you feel it.”

“You know what? Then I get to punch your chest hard too.”

As Kyle growled, Dwenno replied nonchalantly.

“Please, please don’t fight,” Aron anxiously intervened.

After a brief commotion,

Kyle, left alone, took a sip of alcohol.

‘Mood’s good here.’

Sitting with his chin resting on his palm, Kyle observed his cheerful friends as he placed his glass down.

“Right, you guys will surely be able to move towards the future.”

All five of them knew this battle might not be one of guaranteed victory.

However, despite that, their attitude remained different.

As Kyle smiled warmly, a subtle presence approached him quietly.

He immediately recognized it as Berkiya.

‘What are you up to now?’

Waiting to see what she’d do, Kyle observed as Berkiya slipped something into his drink.

“Master Kyle, let’s make a toast with Master Luna.”

She then sat beside him casually, acting as though nothing happened, and invited Luna.

“Master Luna.”

“Hm? What is it?”

“Make a toast with us.”

“Alright?”

Luna approached happily with her glass and clinked her cup against theirs.

Luna drank it all at once and exclaimed,

“Ho! Good stuff!”

“Don’t you want to drink?”

Before Kyle could respond, grabbing the unsuspecting Berkiya, he forced her to drink from his glass.

“Ugh!”

“What in the world are you two doing?”

“Someone put something in my drink.”

“Berkiya! What did you put in there?”

Faced with Luna’s question, Berkiya quickly closed her eyes and answered,

“D-Dwenno made a special love potion…”

At that, Luna clicked her tongue irritably.

“That stuff doesn’t work.”

“Huh?”

“The potion is both ineffective and ridiculous.”

Luna spoke harshly and then moved away abruptly.

At this, Berkiya pouted.

“Are you looking to make me suffer until the last moment?”

“It’s not like that… right?”

As Berkiya pouted, Bihahr approached Kyle.

After observing both Berkiya and Bihahr for a moment, Kyle said,

“You two, come sit in front of me.”

Upon his invitation, both sat down in front of Kyle.

Purposely pouring drinks for them, Kyle continued,

“You’ve worked hard learning from me up till now.”

“Why does it sound like this is the end?”

Berkiya frowned at his words.

“Because it might very well be.”

“Don’t say that!”

Berkiya pouted again, but Bihahr silently bowed her head with a resolute expression.

“For teaching me thus far, I thank you.”

“Don’t say such things! Master will defeat Erebus and return! How dare you think Master can’t defeat Erebus?”

“Berkiya!”

“Actually, I do believe Master will defeat Erebus.”

Bihahr smiled faintly with those words.

Satisfied, Berkiya exhaled loudly with a nod.

Then Kyle asked them,

“What will you two do in the era of peace yet to come?”

“We’ll help the masters restore the world.”

Berkiya said so, glowing with optimism.

“I want to help those in need and create a world where everyone can be happy.”

“Well done.”

“Of course.”

“Berkiya, want to come here a moment?”

“Yes! Master Luna!”

Hearing Luna’s call, Berkiya ran over.

Luna handed her a large bundle of flowers.

“This is a gift. These are my favorite flowers.”

“Wow, they’re so beautiful! Master Luna!”

Receiving the bundle of flowers, Berkiya was visibly delighted.

Seeing this, Bihahr smiled and said,

“Berkiya will surely illuminate the world.”

Her gentle smile momentarily faded, replaced by a blank stare.

“Master.”

“What is it?”

“If… after peace is restored, the world still harbors those who destroy it, what should we do?”

Any emotions disappeared from Bihahr’s voice.

“Should I continue my current work?”

Kyle silently observed her.

Bihahr had, from birth, lived a thoroughly unfortunate life, without parents, a result of the inescapable times.

Erebus, Tartarus — they took away everyone’s happiness and immersed them in despair.

Yet the one who added tragedy to this life, beyond that, was another human, like herself.

Leo looked at Berkiya.

Even though Berkiya was born into a dark world, she radiated brightness, like the sun, whereas Bihahr resembled the moon in a night sky.

“I can’t tolerate it. The world that was reclaimed through the sacrifices of so many heroes — the world that we built with the hands of our masters and the Great Hero — to allow those destructive parasites to live in it… I think I could never forgive such a thing.”

Spewing twisted malice through clenched teeth, Bihahr continued,

“Should we encounter people without the right to live in an age of peace — if there are many such people — what should we do?”

“Maybe there will be many.”

Kyle answered bluntly.

Those born in the Age of Despair imagined that a world without Erebus would be a utopia.

But since Kyle had lived before the Age of Despair, he knew better.

He knew that a world without Erebus wouldn’t be purely beautiful.

Sometimes it could be even uglier than the Age of Despair.

“You’ll see plenty of foul sights.”

With that, Bihahr gritted her teeth.

“But don’t dwell too much on it.”

Kyle smiled faintly.

“Many people, including me, risked our lives to save the world despite knowing that.”

“…”

“The moment the Age of Peace arrives, you will encounter all sorts of people. Surely, Lissinas will regret it too, thinking, ‘Did we really save the world for these kinds of people?'”

Kyle glanced toward Lissinas in the distance and grinned.

“But even so, there will surely be more good people than bad. Your era will be a world where light outshines the darkness. Therefore…”

Leo extended his hand and roughly ruffled Bihahr’s hair.

“When the world finds peace, don’t spend your whole life in the dark.”

“…Yes, Master.”