Chapter 348: Everyone's Last (2)

The celestial body descending from outer space was causing abnormalities in the continent's mana. As a result, gravity was disturbed, and the restraining force of the world loosened. The closer the celestial body grew, the more serious this phenomenon became.

"...Glitheon."

At the end of the century, Epherene manifested herself. She fixed herself in a specific time axis for a short time because now was the only moment she could break free from the restraints of causality.

"Can you hear me?"

Epherene looked at the exhausted and crumbling Glitheon.

"..."

Glitheon's gaze was fierce. His eyes, as frightening and ferocious as a beast's, were the same as when they chased away the Luna family. But now, Epherene wasn't afraid of him. She felt rather sad.

"...Your magic hasn't been dismantled, I postponed it for a while."

Epherene didn't know if it'd be of any consolation, but even so, she explained. The gigantic magic that Glitheon embodied at the cost of his life although it was only pitiful for Epherene.

"..."

Glitheon said nothing. Were his vocal cords torn? Epherene quietly looked around at the paintings. The passageways leading outside the world that Glitheon tried to set ablaze. Epherene was still researching how to let the people inside escape.

"But... I have a question."

Whispering, Epherene turned her gaze back to Glitheon.

"Why did you hate my family and me so much?"

Yukline and Iliade could be said to be rivals, but Luna wasn't. To put it bluntly, it was a relationship between a wild beast and its prey.

"...I didn't hate- ha."

Glitheon grinned, a creak leaving him.

"Luna's child. I didn't hate you."

He looked up blankly.

"Then what?"

"...I was afraid."

His answer was too honest.

"I thought your talent could outdo my daughter's."

Epherene waited for him to continue.

"I was afraid... of that."

Glitheon turned to stare at Epherene with melting eyes.

"Epherene. You too are being used by Deculein."

However, the moment he spoke of Deculein, anger appeared in his voice.

"Don't trust Deculein, and he will ruin you. Like he ruined my daughter...."

Ruin you. Did the dictionary meaning of to ruin change without her knowledge? Epherene pondered for a moment, then whispered.

"What's the matter? Sylvia did what you wanted."

"...What I wanted?"

Epherene sat next to Glitheon and answered.

"Yes. Sylvia wants to be the sun."

What Glitheon hoped for was for her to be an archmage who reigned in the sky above all wizards, where even the lofty Floating Island could only lookup.

"She's already become the sun."

However, Epherene stretched out her finger and pointed to the paintings. She pointed to the countless people preserved inside.

"Just as life cannot survive without sunlight."

There were a lot of people who depended on her to live. That girl's talent was the hope of this world.

"Sylvia will save this continent."

Epherene said. However, Glitheon laughed.

"You're a fool. Ambition isn't something like that...."

—Click.

At that very moment, they heard another descend to join them. Epherene nodded quietly, and Glitheon knew who this newcomer was without glancing over.

Click, click.

He could tell from her approach.

"...Dad."

The voice was blunt as always, but it was the best sound in the world to hear, a pure voice. Glitheon slowly closed his eyes.

"Long time no see."

Glitheon's expression sank again. A daughter who lost her ambition. A look that didn't fit Iliade.

"I don't want that."

Glitheon was disappointed in Sylvia, who let go of their family.

If it were you, I would be able to make my wish and our family's dream come true. Surely I would, and I never doubted it.

"...You are being deceived by Deculein."

Glitheon said, vomiting blood.

"Dad."

Sylvia neither denied nor affirmed him. She didn't want to force herself against Glitheon's will.

"I made peace with myself."

She just said that.

"Not with Deculein who killed my mother, nor my father who bought his enmity...."

Sylvia paused for a moment. Glitheon's closed eyes slowly opened.

"In the end, I just had to reconcile with myself. There was no need to blame anyone."

Sylvia came up to Glitheon and sat at his side. She placed her hand on his chest.

"...So."

Her voice was still dry, but her heart was as soft as the sea. It twinkled like starlight.

"Can't you reconcile like that too?"

"..."

Glitheon burst into laughter again.

"Hahaha."

At the end of his life, his daughter's sincere request. Sylvia wished for him to let go of that ambition.

"No."

But Glitheon shook his head. Before being Sylvia's father, Glitheon was the head of the Iliade.

"...I don't think I can do that."

Glitheon looked directly into Sylvia's eyes. He stared resentfully into the golden eyes of a child he had previously mistaken for being more Iliade than anyone else.

"I'm still disappointed... very disappointed, my dear."

Glitheon's heart still trembled with flames. However, seeing her father like that, Sylvia felt proud.

"Yeah. I understand."

She wrapped her arms around Glitheon.

"Because that's you."

"..."

...They went silent. Glitheon and Sylvia looked at each other without saying a word.

—Crackle.

Glitheon slowly realized the reason Epherene said Sylvia had already become the sun.

"...Yes."

It was very different from what Glitheon had hoped for, too strange to fit a descendant of the Iliade, too lacking, and infinitely pathetic.

"You look like her, not me."

Glitheon admitted it. She wasn't of his or Iliade's bloodline but her mother's daughter.

"...Yeah."

Sylvia accepted it as well. She didn't let go of Glitheon's hand.

"And... Sylvia."

Glitheon closed his eyes. That broken body and exhausted mind were now reaching their limit. But before that, before the end of his life...

"I truly loved her."

To ignite his ambitions, Glitheon killed his wife, but that didn't mean he didn't love her. However, ambition took precedence over love.

"So, Sylvia...."

Glitheon smiled. He continued to speak slowly, chewing over each word.

"I am disappointed in you for your lack of ambition, but...."

Suddenly, Glitheon's pupils darkened. His blonde hair crumbled into ash. However, he didn't let go of Sylvia's hand.

"I still, even at this moment...."

...I love you.

He left that will behind.

—Crackle...

Somewhere, a fire burned in someone's heart.

* * *

Each time Julie swung her sword, a cold wind rose and flowed past. The magic of winter slowly subsided. The priests of the Altar, Syrio, and Jaylon could hardly break through the absolute zero territories Julie had manifested. They couldn't even get close enough.

In that way, she protected the path leading to Deculein. Even when facing hundreds, she didn't fall back. However, a sudden attack couldn't be allowed. The enemies were trying to provoke Julie and lead her out. They deliberately showed gaps to bait an attack.

However, Julie's purpose wasn't to attack. She only guarded. Until the comet crashed and her body ran out of time. Until her soul died, and her mana dissipated...

Julie felt happy at every second she gained. If only she could earn an extra like this. With that alone, she was indescribably happy.

Clank-!

Every time she wielded her sword and unleashed mana, her body shattered further, but she didn't care. It was her wish to die like this.

Claaank—!

Julie deflected Jaylon's sword and froze Syrio's blade. Her battle was still going on...

"I don't think we can break through."

Syrio said. Jaylon scratched the back of his neck with a slightly sullen look.

"I know. It's an iron wall."

Julie grabbed the sword with both hands. No matter how hard they fought, they couldn't break through. Neither swordsmanship nor magic worked. Whatever they tried, she would freeze it right away.

"They said the emperor has entered the lighthouse."

Meanwhile, more bad news arrived from the priests. Syrio wore a soft smile.

"Oh my. If we can't get through this, we will be killed by the emperor."

"Hmm... yeah. Is this death the way of faith?"

Jaylon shrugged and muttered. The two appeared to be nonchalant even before their death.

"Hmm... but you know, Jaylon."

Syrio put the sword on his shoulder and looked back at Jaylon.

"Why did you return to the Altar?"

It was an innocent question. They knew from the beginning that the end, Quay's wish, would be destroyed.

"...Why are you asking that? Is there a reason for religion?"

Jaylon replied that way. Sirio frowned and fiddled with his chin, but he grinned and nodded.

"Indeed."

There was no reason for faith. Just like Julie's faith, protecting Deculein now, there was no particular reason for theirs in serving Quay. To believe in faith means to believe in yourself, after all.

"...Then."

Syrio again breathed his mana into his sword. Jaylon and the other priests followed his lead.

"If we go back and die, there's nothing we can do about it, right?"

Quick Sword Syrio. A cool smile spread across his clear face.

"We have no choice but to break through the front."

* * *

Claaaank—!

Ice shards splashed, and mana and dark energy mixed. Through it, Lia climbed the stairs Sylvia had drawn. She hid, going one step at a time until she reached the top of the lighthouse.

-Gulp.

At the end of the stairs was a small, rustic door. She paused to consider what lay beyond-

Creeak—!

The door opened while she was thinking. Lia and the children trembled, and they heard a voice.

"...You came."

It was Deculein's. He was sitting down, pouring wine into an old-fashioned glass.

"Yuli."

As he called to her, it felt like she had been stabbed in the heart with a needle, but Lia forced herself to appear calm. She approached.

"...Whew."

And she took a deep breath. She still had some suspicions about Deculein. Even the blue flower on his desk now, the forget-me-not, amplified her doubts.

"What are you going to do?"

Deculein furrowed his brow slightly, and Lia prepared the 'method.'

The method was simple. If her hypothesis were correct, Deculein would be a little hesitant when he heard this name. He would be.

"...Um."

Lia slowly opened her mouth.

"You know."

Of course, it was more likely not. But... she wanted it to be true.

"...Woojin."

The name of the guy she called dozens of times a day.

"Kim Woojin."

Lia pretended to be crazy and called out the name of the guy she loved the most. Now, she had to see the reaction Deculein would show.