Chapter 527

Whoosh! Crackle! Crackle! Boom!

The estate was engulfed in flames.

The surrounding area had been transformed into an absolute sea of fire.

“Aaaahhhhh!”

Deep within the blaze, Berkia wailed in agony, cradling the body of her most beloved partner and the infant born from their love.

Leo walked over to Berkia and dropped to one knee.

He extended his arm, attempting to place a comforting hand on Berkia’s shoulder.

Yet, Leo’s fingers slipped right through Berkia’s form without making contact.

As nothing more than a passive spectator in this memory of the past, there was absolutely nothing Leo could alter.

“I am truly sorry.”

With trembling shoulders, he offered a quiet apology that could never be heard.

It was not the fault of Berkia, who had labored so tirelessly to build a more luminous future.

Nor was it Leo’s fault.

However…

The truth was that the rescued world lacked brilliance.

A reality stripped of darkness was not inherently magnificent.

If he had only explained these harsh realities to them ahead of time, could this catastrophe have been avoided?

If he had not smugly assumed, ‘A pure child has no need to witness the depravity of the world,’ would things be different?

Could this horrific event have been averted?

“I am so sorry, I am so sorry.”

Lowering his gaze, Leo wept in utter silence.

The devastating raid by Shilatulna, the Queen of Monsters.

As a direct result, Fairy Knight Berkia was stripped of her family.

Rage consumed the populace.

People were completely infuriated by the malice of Tartaros, which had struck down the household of an esteemed champion.

Yet, Shilatulna had already vanished from the battlefield after confronting Berkia.

She was never an adversary that could be easily engaged and defeated.

The Queen of Monsters had simply desired to unleash her malice and frustration.

An endless succession of funeral processions wound through the lands.

Following this tragedy, Berkia chose to step down.

A multitude of voices despaired when the pupil of a legendary champion, a savior who had guided this reality, decided to abandon the front lines.

They begged her to reconsider, pleading for her to remain and guide them forward.

But Berkia was utterly hollowed out by grief.

“I no longer possess the strength to fight for the sake of this world.”

Offering only a faint, exhausted smile, Berkia withdrew entirely from the public eye.

While certain individuals mourned her departure.

Others secretly celebrated.

“It has been quite a while.”

“Indeed, it has been a very long time.”

A decade had flown by since that horrific day.

Bihar arrived at her companion’s estate for the first time in many years.

Within a quiet chamber of the residence.

Berkia softly brushed the cheek of her infant daughter, who slumbered peacefully within a small crib.

Berkia’s resting daughter shifted slightly in her sleep.

Gazing down at her, Berkia offered a tender, gentle smile.

“The little one has grown tremendously.”

“She has. She actually called forth a spirit just the other day. I possess no talent for summoning arts, so I find myself at a loss regarding her instruction.”

Berkia shared a warm, happy smile.

Bihar, who had been quietly observing Berkia, finally spoke up.

“Shall we converse somewhere more private?”

Swoosh-

Hearing those words, Berkia straightened her posture.

And gave a quiet nod of agreement.

The pair relocated to the expansive library of the estate.

The elevated, radiant moonlight poured through the windows, bathing the library in silver illumination.

Noticing the light, Berkia remarked,

“You have altered considerably.”

“Oh?”

“In the past, Bihar’s gaze carried a heavy darkness… yet now, your eyes possess a distinct brilliance.”

“Ah…”

“It brings me joy to witness it.”

Berkia spoke with complete sincerity.

“It appears you have discovered a true purpose within this world.”

Hearing this, Bihar inquired softly,

“Are you… truly doing well?”

Berkia cast her gaze downward.

“Throughout the past decade, warfare has been relentless. Following your retirement, fierce battles over resources and power erupted across every corner of the earth.”

Factions pointed their blades at one another and engaged in brutal combat.

“Yet quite recently, the scale of these conflicts has plummeted drastically.”

The primary architects behind these wars were all systematically and brutally assassinated by an unknown force.

It was as though an invisible entity was delivering absolute retribution.

“Berkia, a decade ago, immediately following that catastrophe, you commanded me, ‘Do not pursue the perpetrator,’ did you not?”

“That is correct.”

A decade prior.

The sudden assault by Shilatulna, the Queen of Monsters.

During that dark hour, Berkia was stripped of her cherished companion and her youth.

The entity responsible for ending their lives was indeed the Queen of Monsters.

Under normal circumstances, however, the Queen of Monsters would never have dared to step foot within Berkia’s domain.

Berkia’s martial prowess already eclipsed that of a prominent Legion Commander.

Even the malevolent Queen of Monsters, an entity that had ravaged the world since the ancient Age of Calamity, was nothing more than helpless prey before the edge of Berkia’s blade.

Not merely the Queen of Monsters, but absolutely no force originating from Tartaros possessed the courage to breach Berkia’s borders.

Even if they had attempted an infiltration, they could never have bypassed Berkia’s heightened senses.

“Such an event would be completely impossible without an insider providing aid.”

Bihar spoke with a deeply somber tone.

Fixing her gaze on Bihar, Berkia replied,

“I was forced to bide my time until Benny had aged sufficiently.”

Berkia closed her eyes, recalling the daughter who had been nestled within her womb during that dark era.

“Because I understood that if I stepped past that point of no return, I would never be capable of finding my way back.”

“There was absolutely no reason for you to cross that line. That task belonged to—!”

“No, Bihar.”

Berkia snapped her eyes open and looked directly at Bihar.

“That burden was entirely mine to bear.”

“…”

“They did not turn their backs on the world itself. They merely desired to shape the realm according to their own whims, and they simply required me to step away from my position.”

Berkia offered a fleeting, melancholy smile.

“Therefore, this is my personal responsibility.”

“Very well, I comprehend your reasoning. However… even if your wrath remains unappeased… have not all the individuals responsible for those atrocities already faced execution?”

Bihar’s voice shook with emotion.

“Why then have you extended these executions to individuals who bear no connection to the crime?”

The conflicts that had plagued the lands for a decade.

Those very wars vanished practically overnight.

Countless individuals who had suffered under the weight of combat breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Yet in stark contrast, there were domains where nothing but agonizing screams echoed through the streets.

The influential figures who orchestrated the bloodshed.

Those who callously bartered the existences of others to feed their own insatiable greed.

In the beginning, retribution was visited solely upon those who truly merited death.

Gradually, however, the executing blade stripped away all semblance of leniency.

An anonymous entity was distributing ultimate punishment to those who crossed ethical lines.

And Bihar recognized with absolute certainty that the person administering that ruthless judgment was the very companion standing right before her.

It was undeniably true that wickedness required punishment.

‘Yet this path is fundamentally broken.’

Responding to Bihar’s perspective, Berkia shifted her stance and uttered,

“For ten long years, I have contemplated this. Where did the error occur? I undoubtedly poured everything I had into our cause. My mentors… those legendary champions… I was far more dedicated than anyone else in nurturing the domain they entrusted to us.”

The light faded from Berkia’s eyes, leaving only shadow.

“Why did our reality decay into this state?”

Berkia’s tone shifted into something deeply unsettling.

“And then, the truth dawned on me. It is not merely the hidden figures operating in the shadows who are slowly consuming this realm. Traitors are not the sole individuals who deserve to be purged.”

Berkia’s gaze flashed with an icy, merciless light.

“Those who have forfeited their right to exist walk openly within the light of day as well.”

Bihar felt the air catch in her throat as she sensed the overwhelming, lethal aura radiating from her companion.

“An unimaginable number of souls offered up their lives so that this era could exist.”

“Ber… kia.”

“Consequently, within this current age, only those of pure virtue have a right to live. Every single worthless parasite…”

“Berkia!”

Bihar seized Berkia by her shoulders, raising her voice in a desperate shout.

“I can perceive your agony! There will always be individuals who degrade the integrity of this world! But… you must stop…”

Berkia’s current philosophy had twisted into something unhinged.

Not only was it completely antithetical to the person she used to be, but it would inevitably lead her to complete self-destruction.

“You have to look at this rationally. The mentors… those phenomenal champions must have preserved this world while accepting all of its flaws. Therefore… drop this crusade. You cannot allow yourself to become this monster. Most of all, you…”

Observing Bihar speak through a veil of tears, Berkia lowered her head significantly.

Her delicate frame shuddered violently before she let out a sharp, ragged breath.

“Why…? Why? Why?! Why!!! Why am I forbidden?! Master Lisinas! Master Dweno! Master Arion! Master Luna! Master Kyle! The very individuals who earned the right to savor this tranquility more than anyone else perished without ever experiencing it! Yet why are those wretched parasites permitted to exist, devouring the very peace left behind by their sacrifices? What grants them the authority to revel in all of this? Why must I stand by and tolerate it!? Why?! Why!”

Consumed entirely by an intense flame of animosity, Berkia violently ripped herself away from Bihar’s grasp.

This was no ordinary flash of irritation.

Berkia fundamentally found the situation entirely intolerable.

Kyle and Luna had practically raised her as their own flesh and blood.

Those who conducted themselves with utter shamelessness while surviving on the ultimate sacrifices of the champions who were her true family.

A massive injustice was unfolding, where the wicked openly derided and crushed those who labored honestly every single day.

That behavior was a direct desecration of the legendary champions.

It was an act that thoroughly trampled upon the ultimate sacrifices made by those heroes.

‘Ah.’

Bihar’s features crumpled as if she were on the verge of weeping.

She, who had existed solely within the dark spaces even after the world achieved salvation, had managed to discover illumination within that darkness.

In complete contrast, Berkia had uncovered nothing but absolute darkness directly within the light.

And that shadow was far too immense, completely overwhelming.

The profound animosity that had taken root within her spirit following the tragedy a decade ago had spiraled completely out of proportion, expanding like an unstoppable avalanche.

Bihar tightened her jaw and balled her hands into fists.

‘I am left with no choice but to halt her actions.’

If permitted to proceed down this path, Berkia would completely lose her mind.

She would be forever altered, unable to ever reclaim her former self.

“I will… stand in your way.”

“You possess the deepest understanding of all! The absolute depravity of this realm! You comprehend it perfectly! So why do you choose to obstruct me?!”

The torrent of animosity and wrath that had breached its banks was now turned entirely toward Bihar.

It was as though she was entirely incapable of comprehending why her dearest companion would dare to oppose her.

An intense confrontation erupted between the two figures.

The violent clash ultimately concluded with Berkia emerging as the victor.

And…

Bihar ultimately perished due to the severe trauma sustained during this conflict.

“…”

The historical record provided by the Akashic Record finally drew to a close, prompting Leo to open his eyes to reality.

Lian was positioned unceremoniously on the floor, quietly etching details into a gemstone.

“…She was consumed by sickness.”

“You perceived the truth.”

Click-

Lian, having set the completed figurine of Bihar upon the floorboards, shifted her gaze up to Leo.

“Bihar’s physical form was already failing her entirely due to her ailment. Even if she had never engaged in combat with Berkia, her remaining time was drastically short.”

“I see.”

Leo’s expression turned profoundly melancholy.

Lian proceeded to arrange Berkia’s figurine directly beside the one representing Bihar.

“Berkia’s remaining lifespan was not extended either. She similarly possessed very little time on this earth.”

“…”

“Even so, she carried out an astronomical number of retributions. Ultimately, her path was validated. Her executions steered the course of civilization in a proper direction.”

“Yet Berkia herself met a profoundly tragic end.”

“Indeed, she perished entirely consumed by the shadows. Truly a tragic fate.”

Lian tapped Berkia’s figurine gently with the tip of her finger.

Thud!

“She was an exceptional champion. But the reality of this world completely shattered her.”

Lian directed her gaze squarely at Leo.

“Lord Leo. I am not making this request of you simply because you held the title of Berkia’s instructor. I appeal to you as an entity who has borne witness to the existence of a legendary champion who shouldered the entire weight of existence.”

Lian rose to her feet and offered a deep bow.

“I beg of you, provide her soul with true tranquility.”

In her capacity as the overseer of the Hero Record, Lian was fully aware that Berkia had transitioned into a restless undead entity and was currently unleashing devastation.

Hearing Lian’s emotional plea, Leo closed the distance between them and dropped to one knee.

He gently rested his palm against the overturned miniature of Berkia.

“What right do I have to simply grant that child tranquility? My responsibility is to snap her back to reality, whether that requires delivering a firm slap to her head or a swift kick to her backside.”

“Even the voice of Lord Leo will fail to penetrate her consciousness.”

Lian countered, her voice laced with anxiety.

Berkia was fully aware that her decisions had veered into wickedness.

Yet she simply lacked the capacity to endure the reality before her.

The volatile fury aimed squarely at the individuals who had engineered the demise of her beloved family.

The deep-seated animosity directed toward those who desecrated the ultimate sacrifices of the legendary champions.

The crushing weight of remorse for causing the end of a cherished companion who had trained under the exact same tutelage.

These agonizing burdens chained Berkia down, an individual who had already drifted far past an unpardonable boundary.

She had plummeted into an abyss far too profound to be pulled back by conventional means.

“It is of no consequence if my voice fails to move her initially. I have already informed you.”

Leo delicately adjusted Berkia’s figurine, setting it perfectly upright once more.

“It remains the absolute obligation of an instructor to rectify the blunders committed by their student.”

“…Do you not feel a sense of profound disappointment regarding Berkia?”

“I experienced more than enough disappointment during the era when I was actually providing her instruction.”

Leo offered a soft, quiet chuckle.

“Furthermore.”

Leo pushed himself up to a standing position, a soft, benevolent smile gracing his features.

“Regardless of any disappointment I might harbor, she remains my student and is akin to my own child. Is it not the most natural instinct to grasp the hand of a faltering child and pull them back to their feet?”

Beholding his demeanor, Lian stood completely paralyzed, her jaw dropping in sheer amazement.

‘Ah, without a doubt, this individual is…’

“I have successfully achieved the salvation of the entire world, so why on earth would I be incapable of rescuing a single stubborn elf?”

‘He is undeniably more magnificent than the Architect of Creation.’