Black Badger

"Activate the teleportation circle!"

When I ran toward the Imperial Palace, the Archmage assembled the mages and shouted.

The screams of the Imperial Capital's citizens pierced my ears.

The mages, trembling, approached the summoning circle and knelt, pressing their hands to the ground.

Someone raised their head and shouted.

"The teleportation circle isn't complete yet!"

"Then do you want to burn to death?!"

The Archmage yelled.

The mages bit their lips and lowered their heads.

There was nothing to argue with. With their heads bowed, the mages began chanting in unison.

Light swirled around the teleportation circle.

"Don't just stand there, next group—get ready quickly!"

A bluish flame erased the darkness.

Hecate already led the first escape group and waited for the teleportation circle to activate. The circle's light illuminated the faces of the empire's people, who wailed.

I could leave this place to Hecate.

After assessing the situation, I turned and headed out. I needed to instruct the Knight Order members to guide the escape groups one after another. Even with the entire Knight Order mobilized, it would not be enough to manage dozens of groups.

After relaying the orders, I had to head to the flames.

With that judgment, I dashed out of the palace.

*

Kisis stood by the fire.

I had run straight to the flames after giving orders, so when I encountered the one who should have been at the Emperor's side, my eyes widened.

"Sir Kisis!"

When I grabbed his arm, Kisis whipped his head around.

"Even if I tell you to return to the Imperial Palace, you won't listen, will you?"

"Is that a question?"

"No."

I chuckled and drew my sword.

The corruption in front of me sliced away and crumbled.

I walked to the Prince's side, where he gripped his sword straight and wiped sweat from his brow with his forearm.

"It was just a polite suggestion."

I fixed my gaze on the flames.

Then, with a heavy heart, I watched the buildings crumble in the fire. The lives and traces of history perished along with the blaze inside them.

The dying cries soaked in agony mixed with the roaring of the flames.

Though I was seasoned enough to maintain my reason amid such a scene, seeing the world I had tried to protect collapse like this made my insides churn unavoidably. It was a place filled with things I wanted to protect. A space where Kyle, Ray, and countless precious people had spent their time.

"What group is this?"

I turned my head at Kisis's question.

Meeting his violet eyes, I smiled faintly.

"The last one."

"Then I'll go with you."

Kisis smirked and turned his head.

His silver-blond hair, nearly golden, whipped back in the wind created by the flames.

"If we survive to the end, let's jump in together, fledgling."

I nodded.

If we survived until the very last moment, I thought we should watch the crumbling Imperial Capital and leap in.

If necessary, I vowed to push Kisis in first, at least.

I hoped I would not survive alone in misery again.

With that earnest wish, I faced the surging flames approaching.

I felt Kyle and Ray running over.

*

My throat ached, and my eyes stung.

The Imperial Capital burned almost entirely.

I had not looked back once, so I had no idea how the evacuation progressed. I focused solely on slowing the advancing flames, with no spare energy for anything else. The children of the World Tree had rushed in en masse to help suppress the fire. But the fire proved too powerful.

Now, the blue flames reached the Imperial Palace.

As we retreated backward across the vast Imperial Capital, we found ourselves stepping onto the palace stairs before we knew it.

"Ivon."

I grabbed the arm of the knight panting beside me.

"Go to the teleportation circle."

"I'm fine."

"That's an order."

When I spoke coldly, Ivon looked at me with hurt eyes.

I met his gaze and chuckled.

"You need to move right now."

"...Please let me stay until the end."

"No."

I pushed back the staggering subordinate and shoved his shoulder.

I worried he could even make it to the teleportation circle.

Swallowing that concern deep in my throat, I issued the order coldly.

"Don't make me say it twice."

Ivon bit his lip hard enough to draw blood.

In the end, he ground his teeth and turned away. I felt his presence fade and sighed in relief. I was grateful he had obeyed.

Now it was truly the end.

Exhaling a long breath, I looked down at the Imperial Capital engulfed in flames.

The Imperial Capital lay covered in fire, flickering black.

"There's nothing left to remember."

I heard Ray's mutter.

"I never thought we'd leave like this."

At that moment, someone came running from behind.

Turning at the sound of hurried footsteps, I saw You, drenched in sweat.

The dried blood on his clothes hem sent a chill through me.

Whose blood was it?

"Your Highness."

Moreover, as soon as he stopped, panting, he used the title Kisis hated most.

Probably to draw the attention of Kisis and everyone else.

"You must go now."

Kisis turned a cold gaze on the strategist.

Fortunately, he did not lose control. He did not rage or draw his sword. Instead, he just stared at You with chilling eyes.

You did not avoid that gaze. He simply looked straight at Kisis, trying to steady his ragged breathing.

The man with violet eyes moved quickly.

For the first time in hours, he turned his back to the flames.

"Let's go."

The people who had been facing the flames turned their bodies.

"There's nowhere left to hold it back now."

Indeed, the flames had surrounded the Imperial Palace.

No one protested. We silently averted our eyes from the flames and followed behind Kisis. The children of the World Tree and the capable knights walked in silence.

Without knowing what we would witness next.

Trying to believe, at least, that the people we loved had escaped safely.

*

I did not think everything would go smoothly.

But I had not expected it to go this wrong either.

"The first group was wiped out."

Deltei stared at the blood-soaked teleportation circle with unfocused eyes.

"The teleportation circle devoured them."

"...And the next group?"

"Who knows. They didn't get crushed into mincemeat between teleportation circles. But they might wander forever between dimensions. We couldn't input the destination properly."

"What about the one after that?"

"The mages activating the teleportation circle vomited blood and collapsed, so I can't guarantee they made it through properly."

"There were some successful groups, right?"

"A few lucky ones in the middle. Even those only seem successful."

It was a sea of blood.

The scene was horrific. When we arrived at the shrine where the teleportation circle was, we faced clumps of blood covering the ceiling and walls. Mages dying beside the circle, vomiting blood. The corpses of mages twisted and dried in death.

Traces of them squeezing out every last drop of fluid to cast the spell.

The space held only the final escape group and the corpses.

The Imperial Capital citizens who had witnessed this entire catastrophe huddled in the corner of the shrine, trembling. The remaining mages' eyes were unfocused. I knew that expression all too well.

People whose will to live had extinguished, reduced to living dolls.

Beside them remained the Emperor and the Archmage.

Grand Duke Zack as well.

The Prince and the First Imperial Princess too.

"Kisis."

The man whose emotions I still could not read that day.

The fallen empire's sovereign called his son's name.

Kisis, who had stood motionless at the shrine's entrance, raised his head.

Kisis looked at the Emperor without a word.

"You are now their leader."

The Emperor did not wait for Kisis's response.

"While we activate the magic formation, take the rest and leave."

"What?"

The knights' voices rose.

"What do you mean, Your Majesty!"

The Emperor ignored the ensuing pleas.

I judged the situation with sunken eyes. I understood why they had made that decision. They were the only ones left who could activate the teleportation circle. The Emperor, the First Imperial Prince, and the First Imperial Princess. A few mages had survived, but none had the stamina left to activate it. Some were barely clinging to life, and that alone was admirable.

Ah. Kisis could not use magic.

Cowardly as it was, I felt deep relief at that fact.

"You've worked hard holding back the fire."

The Emperor looked at the crying knights and children of the World Tree and spoke flatly.

"Now, prepare to evacuate yourselves."

"Your Majesty!"

"We'll stay too!"

"Quit your nonsense."

The Prime Minister snorted at the sobbing people, viewing them coldly.

"What difference does it make if you stay?"

"Grand Duke, aren't you going?"

I asked calmly, trying to ignore the ominous feeling.

"You can't use magic."

The Prime Minister turned his gaze to me.

His beard was white like mountain azalea blossoms. His upright posture. His always impeccable attire. He looked as if he had just stepped out from his office desk.

As if he might smirk and say there was a meeting soon and to prepare his escort.

The Prime Minister gave his characteristic crooked smile.

"I need to do the calculations."

"Grand Duke."

"Can you calculate as accurately as I can?"

Grand Duke Zack pretended not to notice my trembling voice.

"Do you even know how to do the calculations?"

Once again.

My heart tore.

We had had this conversation before. In my childhood, when I did not know the world's cruelty. The priests had pushed me into the temple with smiles like that.

A suffocating smile mixed with affection and resolve.

I never wanted to see it again.

"I hope the two Knight Commanders will assist Kisis well from now on."

I raised my head at the First Imperial Prince's voice.

He, who resembled the Emperor in his lack of expression, discarded his tattered cloak on the floor.

"The youngest is still so inexperienced."

"Jeffrey."

"Kisis. Listen well."

The First Imperial Princess bent at the waist toward the magic formation and added.

"They're the children who'll help you without cunning."

Kisis ground his teeth.

I pretended not to see his tightly clenched fist. Averting my gaze, I took in the remaining people preparing to activate the magic formation.

The heat steadily approached.

For the first time, the imperial family knelt before us.

The three imperial members knelt before the massive magic formation.

As they simultaneously touched it with their hands, the magic formation shone brilliantly.

"Go in."

Deltei said to the people in the corner with a hoarse voice.

"Thank you for waiting until the end."

The final escape group.

Most cried. They trembled and shed tears. To prevent any unexpected incidents, I walked to their side. Gripping my sword hilt, I watched the woman at the front bravely approach the magic formation.

Short black hair, a cloak covered in blood.

She bowed deeply to the imperial family and leaped into the magic formation.

"Don't stop—keep going."

You instructed.

The people followed his words. We watched them disappear into the dimensional formation. People fell into the light that brightly illuminated the bloodstained shrine.

After sending them off, I sent Deltei, You, and the children of the World Tree in one by one.

Once the children of the World Tree had all entered the teleportation circle, I pushed the knights in.

"I'll enter last."

"No."

I firmly refused Nol's words.

"Don't overstep."

Nol ground his teeth like Ivon, who had jumped into the dimensional formation earlier.

He was even more stubborn than Ivon. He would not budge from my side despite my words.

What a stubborn guy.

Strictly speaking, Ray, Kyle, and I should have been the last ones left.

With a sigh of resignation, I prepared to push him away.

At that moment, the shrine shook.

Boom!

"Ah."

We all turned to the entrance simultaneously and let out short sounds.

"Damn it."

A dragon.

The same species that had guarded the World Tree's front.

But much larger. And far angrier. It showed no intention of forgiving us, the ones who had provided the source of destruction.

If I had faced this dragon that day, I would not have survived.

There was no guarantee I would now either.

Did things have to go this wrong?

"Commander!"

"Go."

As the dragon's tail struck the shrine, I pushed Nol into the magic formation.

Kyle and Ray leaped forward to protect the imperial family and the Prime Minister.

As Kisis spun around to face the dragon, Kyle and I shouted sharply in unison.

"Jump in!"

Do not hesitate like idiots—jump!

There were still dozens of subordinates who had not entered the magic formation yet.

The dragon, enraged by the loss of the World Tree, was powerful. Kyle and I charged at it together, but the situation deteriorated rapidly. The ceiling cracked and collapsed. The dragon's powerful tail whipped at the remaining people fiercely. I felt one of my subordinates who took a bad hit perish.

Foolish guy.

If he had not hesitated, he could have lived.

Ah.

Now the floor collapsed too.

"Ray! Kyle!"

Clearing the falling debris, I called to my comrades who protected the imperial family and Prime Minister, steadfastly maintaining the magic formation.

"Jump down!"

"What about you!"

"I'll follow, so jump!"

If the floor collapsed, the magic formation would vanish too.

Seeing the massive crack gradually widen, I sliced through the dragon's flames.

Urgency crept into my voice.

"Now!"

Kyle threw Ray in.

Ray vanished into the light with a sharp curse. The subordinates disappeared into the magic formation one by one.

Now only the imperial family, the Prime Minister, and Kyle remained. The ones who should have been last were left in the crumbling space.

Kyle, looking down at the magic formation, raised his head to me.

His black hair shook with the magical fluctuations. His golden eyes sparkled in the white light.

From his gaze alone, I could read what he wanted to say.

A heavy sense of responsibility and fighting spirit. The will to live.

"Let's go."

Kyle jumped in.

At that moment, the dragon roared.

"Sir Kisis!"

I twisted my body to grab the Prince.

"Hurry..."

Whoom.

The sword blade grazed past.

The impact from the swung blade pushed my body back. My lower half slid into the magic formation. Letting out a groan, I grabbed the intact floor with my upper body, and in that instant, I witnessed swordsmanship beyond imagination.

Waves emanated from the sword, slashing the dragon.

Bluish waves. The wave tore the dragon's foot as it tried to strike the floor. Scales shattered, and blood burst forth.

The dragon's agonized roar struck my ears.

"Huh."

Grand Duke Zack exclaimed in admiration from behind.

"So that's why that aura isn't just a legend."

The floor began to crumble.

I tilted my head back to look at Kisis.

The knight who had protected the magic formation from the dragon's attack now calmly looked down at me.

"Sir Kisis."

I reached out with a desperate voice.

I could not fall into the teleportation circle like this.

"Kisis. It's not too late if you jump now."

"No. The destination has to be inputted after everyone jumps. You didn't memorize the order, did you?"

"Then I'll escort the Prime Minister, so jump now!"

"You're the leader now."

Kisis smiled down at me.

It was the same smile he had shown when I cut his hair.

A beautiful yet chilling smile that had brought him infamy.

The smile of one who feared not even death.

"Hildebert. Whatever comes next, make decisions that save as many as possible."

"Kisis."

"Save as many of my people as you can."

"Kisis!"

"Take care of it."

Boom!

The dragon, writhing in pain, flapped its wings and positioned itself behind Kisis again.

But Kisis did not turn around. His platinum hair swayed in the wind from the dragon's wingbeats, and his violet eyes curved gently.

A radiant smile.

"I'm sorry for burdening you with this heavy load."

Please.

"But you'll make the right decisions. My fledgling."

Please...!

Boom!

There was an impact.

I could not see exactly what it was.

The important thing was that I fell into the magic formation with the impact. Without grabbing Kisis. Without stopping him from turning to face the dragon.

Once again, without protecting what I had to protect.

With the collapsing floor, I fell out of the world.

Saying farewell to the world, leaving behind what I had to protect.

"I'm sorry, Hildebert."

That was his last words.

*

"So I."

Never regretted coming to Earth.

All those sacrifices.

All those efforts.

All that will.

Packed into my crossing over.

How could I, of all people,

Regret setting foot on Earth.

I, who bore his final command, how dared I.