"Kim Woojin."
Lia called his name, then focused her attention on the blue forget-me-nots that was next to the glass of wine. She was too shy to look at his face.
"…"
Deculein didn't say anything. In Lia's mind, expectations rose like tiny drops of water, and thoughts of what might happen bubbled in the prolonged silence. Taking a sharp inspiration, she gathered her courage, opened her eyes and looked up.
From the wrinkles on his face to the beating of his heart, the expansion of the iris, the movement of the pupil, and even the subtle changes in the atmosphere, she did not notice any irregular movement...
"There is no time to be idle" said Deculein, interrupting her observation.
Dejected, she came to the conclusion that she gave herself a false-hope.
[36:03:23]
The timetable of the quest was still reflected in her eyes. Lia clenched her fists. She looked again at Deculein and the sky beyond him. What originally seemed like a small dot was now as clear as the old moon.
"I think you have something to do."
Lia came back to her senses a bit late. Time was ticking, so she shouldn't get confused by this personal matter.
"This lighthouse, that comet will destroy the continent." she said.
Leo and Carlos nodded behind her.
Deculein smiled, and picked up some notebooks off his desk.
"I know."
"But why? You can achieve what you want… without destroying everything."
"You think you know my goal?" asked Deculein teasingly. "I may be deceiving you, making you misunderstand my purpose and buying time."
Lia continued to stare at him.
"…You don't lie."
"I do" he answered tersely. "And, I already did."
He turned to Lia.
"Just like you did."
Lia's brow furrowed. Deculein grinned and pointed to Carlos.
"You said that you could make that half-blood a human. But he's still the same."
He shook his head.
"You can't make someone already half-demon into a human. Even if you could, losing oneself would be like death."
Carlos glared at Deculein, but lowered his gaze as soon as Deculein glanced back, too intimidated to confront him.
"Yuli. The meteorite can no longer be stopped."
Deculein turned to observe it breaking through the atmosphere.
"Even if I die, even if this lighthouse is broken, its descent is unavoidable."
"…"
"Revolting and lowly people. Those who didn't know their places attacked nobles, insulted wizards, and demeaned knights."
He spoke slowly.
"Those insects that live on this continent."
Looking up at the sky, he sneered.
"They will eventually go extinct."
"…"
Lia fiddled with her necklace. The crystal ball inside caught all she witnessed.
"…And then it will start again."
Deculein met Lia's gaze.
"A new world where all the lowly things will vanish."
If this was acting, it was great acting.
"But before that."
Bang-!
Deculein pounded his staff against the ground, and mana rose. Rising like mist, it wrapped around Lia, Leo, and Carlos.
"Uh, huh?!"
"Ugh!"
Leo and Carlos screamed and disappeared. The crystal ball also stopped working. Now, Lia was the only one left.
"Now it's only us."
She glared at Deculein.
"Yuli."
He called her name, his voice suddenly warm, his face so relaxed and soft that it surprised her. She began to tremble.
"I loved you."
A sudden pain squeezed her heart.
"I loved only you…"
A small smile spread across Deculein's lips. As if recalling the past, reminiscing cherished memories.
"I was lucky to have you."
He wore a boy's smile. Lia felt dazed.
"And I was able to survive because of you."
It wasn't Kim Woojin saying that to his ex-girlfriend.
"I thought about it a lot, wishing I could see you again at least once."
It was Deculein saying it to his ex-fiancee.
"…"
Yuli bit her lip. Her heart was pounding, and her gaze was already hazy with tears. Even though she knew he was not Kim Woojin, hearing it made her happy, sad, and jealous.
"If I had known you were here, I would have cherished this body more."
Lia's face contorted as tears rolled down her cheeks.
Deculein handed the notebook on his desk over. Lia wiped her eyes with her sleeve, then took it.
"Why are you giving me this?" she muttered.
As she said that, Deculein's mana flickered blue and wrapped her up.
"…Huh?"
Lia had a blank look in her eyes as she stared at Deculein.
"This conversation is over."
His face was a little strange. No, it was too strange. He had the happiest expression she had ever seen him wear.
"I wish I had known sooner."
Why was he saying it like that…?
* * *
Emperor Sophien climbed the lighthouse. The sword hanging from her hand was already wet with blood, and her eyes were full of murderous intent. All the people from the Altar, beasts, and chimeras trying to block her advance were cut down as she climbed the steps one by one.
Kwaaaaaah-!
When a chimera from the Altar came running with a roar-
Swooosh-!
Sophien's sword poured down like rain that couldn't be avoided and contained. Every slash cut another down. The Great Emperor demonstrated a level of swordsmanship that transcended all. The knights around her could only look reverently and exclaim at every cut.
"There is no time to be amazed ! Get a move on!" exclaimed Maho.
Clutched in her hand was a map of the lighthouse.
"Yes!" answered Lawaine.
Delric followed as they climbed the lighthouse stairs.
Boom-!
A huge vibration shook through the tower as a powerful wave of mana rocked the earth.
"Ugh—!"
"Kugh—!"
Countless knights, wizards, and Demon Bloods tumbled down the stairs, spitting blood. Only Ganesha and Emperor Sophien were unscathed. As a result, the army ground to a momentary halt.
"You're weak" said Sophien.
She took a piece of cloth out of her pocket and wiped away the blood from her sword. Then, the emperor stared at them, standing still with eyes dyed red.
"…Do you think it is useless?"
No one answered. The emperor asked in a colder voice.
"Do you think that the comet has come too close to be stopped?"
Again, her question only met silence. As she said, the end was already approaching. Would the comet disappear if they destroyed the lighthouse? Could the continent escape from destruction?
"…It doesn't matter."
Nevertheless, Sophien spoke with full confidence.
"Just trust me."
She looked up at the roof, her hands shaking briefly before stabilizing, her eyes brimming with determination.