Chapter 676

“Just as we thought, Lord Dweno is incredible!”

“The sheer courage it took to obliterate those demonic fiends entirely on his own!”

Compliments regarding Dweno echoed continuously from every direction.

Overhearing the chatter, Ar spoke in a low voice.

“That is Lord Dweno for you. Long before he ever accomplishes the monumental deeds of a true savior, his renown among the common folk is already immense.”

‘It makes total sense when you think about it. Back at the beginning, Dweno held the highest reputation within our entire group.’

Both he and Lisinas possessed such a high profile that their names were known to everyone.

‘Granted, Lisinas and I were actually known for the wrong reasons.’

One was a dreamer who naively rambled about rescuing humanity from doom.

The other was a lone survivor who made it back alive only by letting his companions perish.

He was viewed with dread and avoidance, whispered about as a harbinger who brought mortality wherever he walked.

During that period, Luna was merely beginning to build her reputation, while Arion was still quite youthful.

The champion who commanded the greatest admiration back then was Agon of Leisar.

He was Arion’s mentor, recognized by the title ‘Guardian of the Azure Sky,’ and had been selected by Lisinas as a potential companion.

Furthermore, Dweno commanded a level of respect and authority that easily rivaled that of Agon.

“The man truly is magnificent.”

“Naturally he is. That is simply who Lord Dweno is.”

“Exactly. Every resident of this settlement holds Dweno in high regard. He guides us excellently.”

Enniha remarked, downing a large mouthful of her drink.

Beside her, Dryana offered a soft hum and gestured in agreement.

Hearing their conversation, Leo raised his cup to his mouth without uttering a sound.

“I proved to be an inadequate commander.”

A memory surfaced from a past evening, during a celebratory feast following a fierce skirmish.

Abruptly, Leo recalled Dweno’s quiet admission, uttered when the two of them were sharing a private drink.

“The combatants of Ivaldi possessed incredible talent, and our craftsmen were extraordinarily gifted. Had I successfully guarded them until the very conclusion… our fate might have unfolded uniquely.”

That had been one of those rare instances where Dweno, typically guarded about his history, opened up about his previous life.

“If only reversing the flow of time were possible. I could have spared so many more lives.”

“Have you had too much to drink? You are fully aware that reality doesn’t work that way.”

“…….”

“We cannot afford to waste our energy reflecting on what is behind us. We must focus on the path ahead and forge onward.”

“Heh… quite true. Your words are accurate.”

“Dweno, your shoulders are already burdened with an immense weight. Do not add the baggage of yesterday to it.”

“Spare me the sickening sentimentality.”

“And here I am, attempting to offer comfort.”

A subtle grin appeared on Dweno’s face as he observed Kyle, whose brow was furrowed in annoyance.

“Give me your word on one thing as well.”

“About what?”

Dweno emptied his cup in one swift motion.

“Acknowledge your past remorse, but refuse to let it chain you.”

“I would never allow that anyway.”

“Indeed. Knowing you, such a danger doesn’t even exist.”

“Brother Leo?”

Chelsea’s call shattered his train of thought.

“What is it?”

“Your drink is all gone… Would you like me to fill it back up?”

“That won’t be necessary.”

“It is quite unusual for you, Leo Plov, to wander off into your own mind like this.”

Leo let out a soft laugh at Duran’s mocking scoff.

“I was merely reminiscing about bygone days for a moment.”

“Behaving like an elderly fellow once more, are we?”

Kyle remarked, while Eliza permitted a faint smirk to touch the edges of her lips.

“Eliza.”

“What?”

“Divine retribution is going to strike you for that attitude.”

“What did I even do?”

Kyle simply shook his head as he watched Eliza’s expression twist into a sharp glare.

“Captain, what exactly has captured your focus so intently?”

“It is of no real consequence.”

Leo cast his gaze over the gathered beast-folk and dwarves who were reveling in the festivities.

“I was simply reflecting on a past action that turned into a lingering remorse.”

“How unexpected. It is rare for our captain to harbor such notions. I assumed you were entirely devoid of regrets.”

Leo offered a wry chuckle in response to Illiana’s observation.

“Does anyone truly exist in this world without a single regret?”

The companions around him remained unaware, but the individuals currently surrounding them belonged to a bygone era.

A time spanning 5000 years into the past.

An innumerable multitude of souls who stood firm against annihilation, only to meet their end within Ivaldi.

This was the root of Dweno’s sorrow.

Yet all at once, an alternative possibility entered his mind.

‘What if I had… accepted his alliance a bit earlier?’

Had he agreed to stand beside Lisinas and commenced the quest to preserve their world just a little sooner.

‘Would these individuals have managed to survive?’

He understood perfectly well that such speculation was futile.

Even so, Leo found himself unable to halt the cycle of remorse.

This was the heavy inheritance of grief left behind by a dear companion.

It represented the forgotten history of an ally who had preserved Leo’s own life over and over amidst the chaos of war.

They were champions who had faded away in obscure corners of the world.

‘The past is set in stone.’

Even achieving triumph in this place would not alter the established timeline.

However…

‘Their legacy can still be transmitted to the days to come.’

The identity and valor of those entirely forgotten by the inhabitants of the current age.

The concluding acts of those who persevered until their final breaths to protect existence back then.

‘Their memory can be inherited by those who follow.’

That was precisely his duty as a survivor residing in the current timeline.

‘I shall ensure that your tales are delivered to posterity.’

Leo shifted his gaze toward a specific direction.

It pointed straight toward where Dweno’s workshop stood.

‘Therefore, Dweno. Make sure you break free from the shackles of yesterday as well.’

When the following dawn arrived.

Chelsea jolted awake inside her tent, sitting upright abruptly.

“Haaahm—!”

Releasing a slow, tired yawn, she wiped at her blurry eyes and dragged herself out of bed.

She had managed to lie down somewhat early as morning approached.

‘Ar, Dryana… and Illiana are nowhere to be seen. Could they have headed out to practice?’

Glancing toward the far corner of the tent, she saw Eliza, Aina, and Artian slumbering deeply, completely motionless.

The prior day’s engagement had been incredibly intense.

Experiencing such profound bodily fatigue afterward was only logical.

By the time she stepped out into the open air, the sun was already high in the sky.

‘Did I push my magical reserves past their limits yesterday as well?’

A dull ache rippled through her entire physique, a clear symptom of drawing upon too much mana.

“I knew it; I belong on the front lines instead of channeling spells from the rear safety.”

Massaging her stiff shoulders briefly, Chelsea extended her limbs with a low groan.

“Ah, young lady! A very pleasant morning to you!”

“Bwahaha! Your performance yesterday was spectacular! We would have faced total ruin if not for your intervention shreds!”

“Are you in search of a new catalyst? I am capable of forging a fine magic staff for your use.”

The dwarves and beast-folk moving alongside the defensive battlements openly displayed their appreciation toward her.

“Thank you, but I am quite content! My current magic staff serves me wonderfully! Would you like some assistance transporting those construction resources?”

“Absolutely not. We could never impose such physical labor upon an esteemed spellcaster!”

“I really don’t mind assisting!”

“Please, do not worry about it! Just focus on recovering your strength!”

When Chelsea stepped closer with a friendly demeanor, the beast-folk woman gestured dismissively to decline the offer.

Watching their retreating figures, Chelsea let out a relaxed breath.

‘The barriers between us have broken down significantly.’

The suspicious and hostile stares she used to receive had dissolved completely.

Standing shoulder-to-shoulder to repel the assault of Tartarus before sharing a feast had clearly broken the ice.

‘At any rate, the prerequisites for conquering this dungeon have been satisfied.’

In order to fully neutralize the dungeon that had manifested, a thorough investigation of its inner parameters was mandatory.

This applied to the interior of this stronghold as well as the immediate territories surrounding its exterior walls.

Their primary objective was to locate and obliterate the core logs of the enemy legion responsible for sustaining the anomaly.

Accomplishing that task would bring this assignment to a flawless conclusion.

‘Prior to that, however… would it be possible to summon reinforcements from Damian?’

While Chelsea was weighing these options in her mind, a voice interrupted her thoughts.

“You have awakened rather early.”

“Good morning, Brother Leo!”

Greeting him with a radiant expression, Chelsea walked over to where Leo stood.

“Where did you run off to?”

“I deposited the youngsters with Dweno before returning here.”

At the crack of dawn, Leo had roused the slumbering trio of Ar, Dryana, and Illiana, escorting them directly to Dweno’s forge.

“Wait, even Ar is undergoing instruction?”

Leo grinned as he observed Chelsea slanting her head in confusion.

“I deemed it essential. It happens to be the exact regimen that Arion underwent during his youth.”

“Did Ar actually agree to participate willingly?”

She had previously been informed about the rigorous nature of this specific instruction.

“Far from it.”

Naturally, there was no actual cause for concern.

‘Release me this instant! You absolute creep!’

Chelsea murmured under her breath, recalling the scenario Leo had described.

“An apparition of the waves… or rather, an apparition of the flames.”

Chelsea gave a sharp click of her tongue and let out an amused snort.

“It truly is a magnificent opportunity to learn under both Lord Dweno and you, Brother Leo!”

“In that case, would you care to join them?”

“…I shall pass.”

Chelsea offered a strained, hesitant smile.

Having been subjected to Leo’s relentless tutoring since her initial year of acquaintance, she was intimately aware of the reality.

Just how brutal Leo’s instructional sessions could become.

‘Granted, the results are undeniable.’

Trembling slightly at the memory, Chelsea spoke up.

“Are you planning to cook the morning meal? I can assist you with that.”

“There is no need. We will make do with a brief bite this morning. I have an outstanding matter to attend to beforehand.”

“An errand? What sort of errand? Does it pertain to resolving the dungeon crisis?”

“No, it is a private matter.”

“Private…?”

“Precisely.”

Leo shifted his gaze over the urban landscape nestled within the defensive walls.

“I must seek out the individual who preserved my life.”

“The one who saved you?”

The destination Leo steered toward was the industrial smithing zone, located right beside the citadel’s living quarters.

Dweno, possessing his own secluded facility, stood out as an exception to the rule.

The vast majority of metalworkers crafted armaments within a collective manufacturing hub.

The structure at Guardthrone operated under the same principles.

Clink! Clank!

Whoosh! Wheeze!

Fsssh! Hiss!

The rhythmic striking of heavy mallets and the breathing of air bellows echoed.

The noises of scorching metals being tempered and quenched drifted from every corner.

“Hold on, you two. This zone is off-limits to unauthorized personnel, you know.”

Under normal circumstances, visitors were strictly barred from crossing into this quadrant.

However, earlier that morning, he had secured explicit authorization from Dweno himself.

Pulling a folded parchment from his vest, Leo presented the written permit Dweno had drafted to the supervisor on duty.

The overseer skimmed the contents, gave a nod of acknowledgment, and inquired.

“What brings you here? Do you require maintenance for your equipment?”

“Is there a dwarf by the name of Dinet working in this sector?”

“Dinet?”

The dwarven female overseeing the floor cocked her head to the side in thought.

“She is a blade-smith who specializes in crafting swords. I recall her as an intermediate-tier artisan.”

Dinet.

That specific signature was etched into the base of the pommel of the blade Kyle wielded, sitting right alongside the crest of Ivaldi.

Leo had inquired about this identity during his past existence, yet even Dweno had possessed no recollection of her.

‘The ranks of forge-masters within Ivaldi were vast. While an intermediate craftsman undoubtedly performed their duties honorably, their standing simply wasn’t elevated enough to leave an impression on my memory.’

Ivaldi had been counted among the scarce redoubts capable of holding out against the onslaught of Erebus throughout the grueling Age of Calamity.

Consequently, it encompassed an immense territory.

The sheer volume of citizens dwelling within these fortifications was staggering.

Because of this, it was completely impractical to expect Dweno, who simultaneously functioned as the grand commander, to retain the name of an ordinary sword-smith.

“Dinet… let me think… Ah! Yes, that particular Dinet.”

The manager of the manufacturing facility nodded as recollection dawned.

“For what reason is a guest trying to track down Dinet?”

“She is the reason I am alive today.”

“Pardon?”

“I managed to survive numerous mortal perils solely because of the armaments crafted by her hands. I simply wish to convey my deepest thanks to her.”

“Goodness… I never anticipated an occasion where a warrior wielding a blade forged in Ivaldi would return merely to offer appreciation…”

“Regrettably, my arrival comes far too late.”

From the perspective of those present, it was a strange remark, but within the grand tapestry of time, this expression of gratitude was arriving five millennia after the fact.

As a somber smile touched Leo’s lips, the supervisor returned a melancholic look.

“Dinet would have been absolutely overjoyed by your words. She would have viewed it as the ultimate validation of her craft.”

“Would have been?”

“She passed away. Right before our relocation to this realm took place.”

“…….”

Upon receiving this news, Leo lowered his eyelids in silence, while Chelsea let out a sharp, startled breath.

“Her actual final resting place remains back in Ivaldi, but we have erected a memorial site right here to honor those who fell. If it pleases you, I can escort you there.”

“I would appreciate that.”

Arriving at the destination they were led to, rows of commemorative markers stretched out in neat lines.

Several newly chiseled markers, set in place following their arrival in this modern era, indicated that this plot was transforming into a fresh burial ground.

Leo halted directly in front of one specific marker.

Scanning the inscriptions cut into the cold stone, Leo’s eyes locked onto the name Dinet.

She was a creator whose physical appearance remained completely unknown to him.

Up until her final breath, Dinet could never have envisioned the identity of the person who would come to rely so heavily on her craftsmanship.

The solitary champion had done nothing more than stumble upon Dinet’s forged blade amidst the chaos of conflict.

Dinet, for her part, had merely executed her calling at the anvil.

Even so…

“Because of your craft, I survived time and again when death was certain.”

The reality remained that Leo was profoundly indebted to her work for his continued existence.

“And because I survived, I was empowered to rescue our world from ruin.”

The gear provided by a metalworker who refused to abandon her hammer even as the world crumbled, maintaining a silent prayer for salvation through her labor, had ultimately formed the foundation for preserving existence.

“My deepest gratitude to you. For preserving my existence.”

Though there was no way for his voice to cross the veil to where she rested.

Having finally uttered the words that weighed heavily on his soul, Leo turned his back on the monument.

Roar—!

Dark, ominous fire flared violently inside the forge’s furnace.

Vttt—

Gias hoisted an immense, heavy sledgehammer.

Positioned right in front of him sat a colossal anvil that mirrored a mountain of solid pig iron.

Stretched across that metal surface was another incarnation of Gias.

Bam!

Gias, securing his grip on the handle with both palms, bared his teeth in a grin.

“All transpires in accordance with the divine decree.”

Maintaining that unsettling grin, he brought the heavy mallet down with immense force.

Crack! Smash!

The upper limb of the Gias pinned to the iron block was utterly shattered and flattened.

It was the agonizing torment of living flesh and bone being systematically destroyed.

“Hehehehe! Hahahahaha!”

The mutilated Gias burst into a fit of unhinged, maniacal laughter.

Through the crimson, ruptured vessels of Gias’s eyes, he watched the dark fire wrap completely around his form.

“All transpires in accordance with the divine decree!”