Chapter 540

Book 1 Chapter 540

540.

On that particular day, Verkia finished having dinner at the residence of Kyle and was making her way back to the home of Luna.

Whoosh—

A sudden gust of wind forced Verkia to close her eyes, and the moment she opened them again, she froze.

“……?”

Verkia gaped blankly at the breathtakingly beautiful woman who had suddenly materialized before her.

“Lady Lysinas?”

“Greetings, Verkia.”

Lysinas offered a gentle smile as she stepped closer to the young girl.

Caught completely off guard, Verkia could only stare at Lysinas, unsure of how to react.

Lysinas, renowned as the King of Wisdom.

The magnificent dragon heralded as the very hope of this world.

Even though Verkia had been taken in as a disciple by her close companions—Kyle, Luna, and Arion—the sheer majesty of Lysinas’s presence remained utterly overwhelming to her.

Scanning the young girl’s face, Lysinas spoke softly.

“Are you just returning from Kyle’s residence?”

“Yes, my lady. But how were you aware that I visited Master Kyle’s home?”

“Word reached me that you have been spending quite a bit of time at Kyle’s place lately.”

Verkia blinked her wide eyes repeatedly, peering up at the towering figure of Lysinas.

“Tell me, Verkia, what exactly does Kyle’s house represent to you?”

Faced with that inquiry, Verkia plunged deep into reflection.

Lysinas found herself slightly taken aback as she watched Verkia ponder the question with profound seriousness.

It was a display of gravity entirely unsuited for a child of her tender age.

‘As I thought, having been born into an age of absolute disaster and having endured so much hardship, her mind operates on a deeper level.’

A wave of sorrow washed over Lysinas.

This was a generation cursed with misfortune from the moment they drew their first breaths.

The grim reality of it left a bitter taste in her mouth.

After a silent pause, Verkia looked up, her face returning to its usual expressionless state, and replied,

“An eating establishment.”

“……”

“No, wait. A highly popular restaurant?”

“I see.”

‘……I suppose she truly is the disciple of Luna and Kyle, after all.’

Lysinas couldn’t help but smile warmly at such an bizarre and unpredictable answer.

Naturally, the girl was Arion’s student as well.

However, Lysinas consciously chose not to lump Arion together with those other two eccentrics.

‘Arion is gentle and untainted, is he not? Furthermore, he is completely sane.’

He was the solitary normal soul trapped between a slovenly rogue, a bizarre individual, and an outright degenerate.

Granted, he could be slightly timid and easily frightened, but what of it?

If Arion ever discovered she held such thoughts, he would undoubtedly wave his hands in frantic protest to defend his comrades; he truly was an incredibly good-natured beastman.

But as for the rest of them?

‘What nonsense is that swindling lizard spouting now?’

‘That dragon possesses a heart as pitch-black as the night sky!’

‘There is absolutely nothing that conniving fellow, who is as malicious as his looks suggest, won’t say.’

Just summoning the memory of her companions’ mocking remarks made her temples throb with irritation.

Lysinas let out a quiet sigh, then lowered her posture slightly so that her gaze aligned perfectly with Verkia’s.

“Verkia.”

“Yes, my lady.”

“For how long do you intend to take your meals at Kyle’s residence?”

“Indefinitely.”

“Even if Luna manages to significantly improve her culinary talents?”

“Hmm.”

Hearing this, Verkia tilted her head to the side inquisitively.

“By what margin?”

“Sufficiently to make the food truly delicious.”

“I find that highly improbable.”

A deep skepticism flared within Verkia’s gaze.

“Master Kyle openly stated that the culinary endeavors of both Lady Lysinas and Lady Luna are thoroughly hexed.”

‘That wretched man, he actually voiced such a thing out loud!’

Lysinas felt her eyelids twitch with suppressed annoyance as she pressed further, “Hypothetically speaking, what would you do if Luna’s cooking actually managed to rival Kyle’s?”

“I would dine alongside Luna.”

Verkia provided her response without a single moment of hesitation.

Luna was the one who constantly watched over and protected Verkia.

It was only natural that the child’s loyalty would ultimately lie with Luna.

“Furthermore, I doubt Master Kyle would harbor any disappointment regarding that outcome,” Verkia muttered in a slightly disgruntled tone.

As things stood, Kyle regarded Verkia—who showed up at his doorstep day in and day out—as little more than a partial freeloader.

“I can easily deduce what that insufferable fellow would do, but still…” Lysinas murmured with a soft sigh.

“Even if Luna’s dishes become just as mouthwatering as Kyle’s, wouldn’t you still choose to frequent Kyle’s house?”

“For what reason?”

“…So that Kyle might experience a little less isolation.”

“He does not appear lonely in the slightest.”

Verkia tilted her head once more, thoroughly confused.

Lysinas could only offer a sorrowful smile as she gazed down at the child.

“Indeed, Kyle would never let it show. Individuals devoid of emotional attachments tend to be that way.”

Lysinas rose back to her full height and shifted her gaze toward the direction of Kyle’s home.

“Even so, I believe it is far better for you to be by his side rather than leaving him entirely to his own devices.”

At those words, Verkia sank into deep thought before suggesting,

“If that is the case, wouldn’t the most logical solution be for him to find a wife?”

“Pardon me?”

“Then his loneliness might truly be alleviated.”

Lysinas looked utterly bewildered for a moment before letting out a strained, awkward chuckle.

“That would indeed be wonderful, yes. However, such matters can only be considered once everything else has reached its conclusion…”

“If Master Luna and Master Kyle were to wed, it would be absolutely flawless.”

“Whatever are you implying?”

Lysinas’s countenance instantly grew rigid.

Yet Verkia, completely oblivious to the sudden shift in atmosphere, continued with a gaze full of pure innocence,

“Personally, I am not fond of the idea, but they do complement each other quite well.”

“……”

This child, for reasons she couldn’t quite define, possessed a dangerous streak.

With that thought taking root, Lysinas countered, “Don’t you think Luna is far too exceptional for someone like him?”

“That is undeniably true. You truly deserve your title as the King of Wisdom.”

Verkia gasped in realization, then fell into a state of intense contemplation.

Lysinas watched her with a gentle, silent smile.

‘Did I meddle in things I shouldn’t have?’

Regret is a sentiment that invariably arrives far too late.

Following that encounter, Verkia maintained her daily routine of visiting Kyle’s home without fail.

Meanwhile, Luna poured every ounce of her energy into honing her culinary capabilities.

Given her naturally eccentric brilliance, she excelled at nearly every endeavor she attempted, and the moment she applied genuine focus, her cooking expertise advanced by leaps and bounds.

Lysinas joined her in these practice sessions, yet as though burdened by an actual curse, her own culinary output showed absolutely no signs of progression.

Nevertheless, despite the massive improvement in Luna’s meals, Verkia never ceased her visits to Kyle’s house.

Luna couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment whenever she saw Verkia leave.

Yet Verkia stayed true to the quiet request Lysinas had made, continuing to eat at Kyle’s table.

Several months drifted by in this manner.

Roughly half a year had elapsed since Verkia had first been taken under Kyle’s wing as a student.

The legendary champions once more departed, setting foot upon the perilous battlegrounds of Tartarus.

“I wonder how much longer it will be before Master Luna and Master Arion make their return?”

Verkia hummed a cheerful melody to herself.

In the wake of the great heroes departing for their massive campaign, Verkia had finally succeeded in flawlessly executing every single grueling task Kyle had assigned to her.

This meant she was finally free to resume her lessons in sorcery and swordsmanship under the tutelage of Luna and Arion.

That anticipation filled Verkia with unbridled joy.

‘It seems I won’t have to learn a single thing from Master Kyle for quite some time now.’

The training she had endured under him was nothing short of a nightmare.

She harbored absolutely no desire to ever repeat those agonizing exercises.

And yet, deep down, Verkia felt a bizarre, inexplicable sense of melancholy.

She shook her head violently to banish the image of Kyle from her mind.

Regardless of those mixed feelings, the sheer thrill of being able to study under Luna and Arion once more far outweighed everything else.

‘I must grow powerful as quickly as possible so I can stand proudly upon the field of battle alongside my masters.’

Verkia was well aware of reality.

To tread upon a battlefield meant placing one’s very existence on the line.

The mere thought of it struck a chord of terror within her heart.

Even so, her desire to become a source of strength for her teachers eclipsed her fear.

To Verkia, these individuals were her absolute saviors long before they were ever her instructors.

‘Though I know Master Luna and Master Arion would be deeply displeased if they heard me speaking this way.’

Verkia pouted slightly.

Cradling the massive spellbook that Luna had entrusted to her, Verkia traversed the stone corridors of Gadthron’s primary fortress.

‘Please, let them return safely soon.’

At that exact moment, a sudden commotion began to echo through the fortress hallways.

‘They have returned!’

Verkia immediately sprinted toward the source of the noise.

As she dashed down the path leading straight toward the teleportation threshold, frantic, elevated voices reached her ears from just beyond the intersection.

“Masters! You have finally returned…!”

The instant she rounded the corner with a radiant grin plastered across her face, the words died in her throat.

“Medical corps! We need healers immediately!”

“Lord Dweno has sustained critical trauma!”

“Do not worry about me! Attend to Arion and the rest of the casualties first!”

“Understood, milord!”

“Luna! Kyle’s wounds are incredibly severe! Deploy your restoration magic at once…!”

“Hold on! Lysinas! This man takes absolute precedence right now! Arion, stay with us!”

“Lysinas, I shall survive, focus your efforts on Arion.”

“But your condition—”

“Go tend to that stubborn fool! I am entirely capable of reaching the medical ward on my own two feet!”

“Understood. Please, do not push your limits!”

“You utter idiot! That wasn’t an act of bravery, it was sheer suicidal recklessness!”

A crowd of pale, panicked individuals worked feverishly to administer aid to the battered champions who had just emerged from the portal.

A multitude of casters converged upon those whose states were most dire.

Arion, in particular, bore horrific, mangled lacerations.

Every ounce of color drained from Verkia’s face.

Clutching the heavy spellbook against her chest with trembling hands, Verkia shrank back, concealing herself against the corridor wall.

Healers tore past her position in a desperate frenzy.

“Lord Kyle! Please, allow us to treat your wounds immediately…!”

“I am fine. Prioritize the others. I will make my own way to the infirmary to tend to myself.”

Kyle’s voice resonated with eerie calm as he stepped clear of the teleportation array.

In truth, none of his injuries were fatal.

Kyle had merely sustained them while moving to extract Arion, who had recklessly plunged deep into the vanguard lines in a desperate bid to turn the tide of war.

Consequently, his physical state was far superior to that of Arion or the remaining commanders.

Step— step—

The rhythmic, squelching sound of boots drenched in gore echoed down the hall.

Thud—!

“Ugh—! Utterly pathetic.”

A sharp curse escaped Kyle’s lips as his leg suddenly buckled beneath him.

Despite his stoic words, his injuries were anything but minor.

Kyle’s hands shook uncontrollably.

Sensing a presence nearby, he slowly lifted his gaze.

“Ma—Master Kyle…”

“Verkia? Is that you…?”

A sorrowful grimace crossed Kyle’s features as his eyes fell upon the massive tome Verkia was desperately hugging.

Then, a faint smile graced his lips.

“Did you successfully complete the tasks I set for you?”

“Yes…”

“…That was remarkably swift. You did exceptionally well.”

Verkia’s eyes stretched wide in sheer astonishment.

It was a modest piece of recognition, yet it marked the absolute first time Kyle had ever offered her a word of praise.

Kyle attempted to hoist himself back up, only for his vision to swim as his body wavered precariously.

“M—Master! Lean on me!”

Allowing the spellbook to clatter uselessly to the floor, Verkia rushed forward to support Kyle’s weight.

This time, Kyle did not push her away.

His physical reserve had truly depleted to that critical of an extent.

“H—Healer! Someone get a healer over here immediately! Master Kyle’s state is—!”

“Verkia.”

Kyle spoke her name in a hushed, gentle tone as the panicked girl scanned the area with a terrified expression, searching for medical aid.

Verkia snapped her gaze upward, locking onto Kyle’s ash-gray eyes.

Those eyes lacked their customary, deadened emptiness.

Instead, they held a profound depth of grief, a striking melancholy, and…

“Acquire strength with utmost speed. Grow powerful, and… take your place upon the battlefield by my side.”

He understood her soul entirely—the girl who yearned to walk the path of war simply to alleviate the crushing burdens carried by her mentors.

Yet beneath that understanding lay a deep, bitter self-hatred.

He loathed himself for demanding that a mere child prepare to step into the meat grinder of conflict.

Luna and Arion were cut from an entirely different cloth.

Luna and Arion desired nothing more than for their young pupil to enjoy a serene, unburdened existence.

They provided Verkia with knowledge solely so she would possess the means to defend her own life, never intending for her to become a soldier to fight alongside them.

Yet Kyle operated on a different philosophy.

In this grim epoch… Verkia would inevitably be dragged onto the battlefield, regardless of anyone’s wishes.

The destiny awaiting a student born into an era completely devoid of peace was tragic and lamentable.

At the same time, he resonated with her fierce determination to follow her masters into the fray.

Because this was an age where survival left no alternative.

If that was the inescapable reality…

‘She must never harbor the fatal vulnerability of relying on the strength of others.’

That fundamental belief was the sole reason Kyle had treated Verkia with such unrelenting severity.

They existed in a world where any of them could perish in the blink of an eye.

He pushed her ruthlessly so that, should they vanish, the student left behind to navigate a life of endless conflict would already possess the strength to stand entirely on her own.

Only at this very moment did the truth finally dawn on her.

The reasoning behind Kyle’s absolute rigidity, which had never once catered to her childish desires.

Verkia gazed up at Kyle, her eyes swimming with a newfound dread.

A sudden, paralyzing terror gripped her heart, as though Kyle might dissolve into nothingness right before her eyes.

“Guide me to the medical ward.”

Verkia clamped her jaw shut, staring back into Kyle’s eyes, which had somehow reverted to their usual, unreadable mask.

“…Understood.”

Without another word, Verkia took the brunt of Kyle’s weight and began steering him toward the infirmary.

Even while bearing grievous trauma and relying on her small frame, Kyle radiated an undeniable aura of absolute power.

It was an immense strength that instinctively made one want to seek shelter beneath it.

Yet Verkia quickly banished that weakness from her mind.

‘…Is this the emotion one feels in the presence of a father?’

Holding fast to that fleeting thought, Verkia forged ahead, stepping forward into the dark.

Goooooooh—!

Leo directed his gaze toward Verkia, who kept her head lowered in a profound bow.

The fragile, young girl from those distant memories was entirely gone.

In her stead stood only a hardened combatant, a veteran who had endured and survived a thousand bloody campaigns.

One who had rescued the realm. One who had guided it… only to be left entirely disillusioned by the outcome.

Swoosh—

Verkia drew herself up to her full height.

In that single, deliberate motion, all remnants of her humanity seemed absent; only the raw motivation of the departed remained, fueled by a scorching animosity toward the living.

‘In that brutal era, the only lesson I could impart to you was how to weather the storm in absolute isolation.’

Step— step—

Leo closed the distance between them, his footsteps measured.

However, the world had evolved past that point.

There was no longer a requirement to shoulder every burden alone and simply endure.

‘We brought a definitive end to that bloody epoch. Therefore, you are under no obligation to exist the way we were forced to.’

He rightfully should have instructed her on a different path to live, yet he had lacked the capability to do so back then.

And so.

“On this day, I shall instruct you on how to lean on another.”

Furthermore…

Leo halted his advance and cast a brief glance over his shoulder.

“Observe the spectacle and absorb the lesson with care.”

Having murmured those words, Leo fixed his unwavering attention straight ahead.

“This particular struggle is…”

Leo dropped into a low stance, bending his knee.

“Because this is the final clash belonging to those who were forged in that bygone age.”

Crash—!

The ground shattered beneath his feet as Leo erupted forward, launching a ferocious assault directly at Verkia.