"Forget it."
Sophien shook her head and placed her finger on the edge of the Go board.
"We will have time to play Go after that."
The reality in front of her eyes was something she didn't want to miss out on by concentrating on a woodblock.
Sophien took a step closer to Deculein. She examined his neat outfit and moved closer.
Woosh—
She untied his tie and raised the collar to one side.
"Who are you?" she asked.
Deculein's expression flinched.
"What do you mean, Your Majesty?"
Sophien sneered.
"Don't take me for a fool. I asked for your real name."
Deculein stayed silent.
"Never mind. I know it already anyway."
Sophien heard his name one day, those strange letters someone had muttered to themselves.
"Kim Woojin."
Deculein's eyes trembled slightly. This faint agitation was the most convincing proof.
Eventually, he nodded.
"Yes. That is also my name. I'm Deculein, and I'm Kim Woojin. There is no real and no fake. Those two selves, both respect and like Your Majesty."
His tone was enough to disconcert Sophien. She didn't know how to react for a while.
Meanwhile, pattering rain sounded overhead, and mana slowly filled the space. Deculein's magic was in motion, so there wasn't much time left.
"…Even after hearing that."
Sophien managed to open her mouth and speak in a trembling voice.
"Do you think I can survive? Without you, I have no reason to live anymore."
The lighthouse trembled in time with the emperor's heart.
"However, I can't change your mind with my confession, so I will ask you just one thing."
"Anything you want" replied Deculein.
The smile on Sophien's lips darkened. Her eyes drew a crescent arc.
"Just as Deculein loved Julie and Kim Woojin loved Yuli… Could you have loved me?"
Could he have? If they had been given more time if their daily life had continued.
He lost himself in thought, but it was only for a moment. He soon put on a more confident look, looking down upon her that way, and opened his mouth:
"I-"
Sophien raised her hand to cover his mouth. She shook her head.
"After reflection, I think it's better not to hear the answer."
She couldn't help it. Either way, it would be sad and painful.
"If that is your wish."
He also accepted Sophien's whims. Sophien looked up at him and smiled.
"Then, I guess it's over now."
"Yes. It felt long, but looking back, it wasn't."
"That is true indeed."
Sophien closed her eyes. She thought back to the day they first met when Deculein introduced himself as her teaching wizard. He explained runes and competed in Go and chess with her. This man who saved her from sluggishness and boredom made her aware of love and reduced her to a mere human.
"Your Majesty. The time has come."
At that moment, she could feel the magic particles gathered in the air. The spell's mana caressed her skin.
Sophien looked at his being, treasuring these last moments with him, trying to capture every little things that she liked about him in her mind, the way he called her 'Your Majesty' at every sentences, his unruffled attire and that aristocratic attitude that he wore all the time. Tears flowed unbidden down her cheeks.
"I'll miss you."
She grabbed her sword and put her blade through his heart.
—!
The lighthouse fluctuated as if the trigger had been pulled. Sophien's mana penetrated Deculein's body and rose within his flesh.
Swoooosh-
His magic spread across the world. The simplest psychokinesis spell wrapped around the entire continent, and all living beings went into his arms…
* * *
—… Deculein didn't kill even one Demon Blood child.
Primienne's voice sounded in Elesol's ear.
—He knew I was a Demon Blood, but he didn't reveal it.
Elesol's eyes scanned the analysis paper that Yeriel had set out. She was reading the result of Louina's interpretation of Deculein's Lighthouse.
—Elesol, you too seem to be vaguely aware of it.
A lighthouse that led to destruction. However, there was another meaning Deculein hid inside.
—Deculein isn't trying to kill the Demon Bloods. He's, rather…
Rustle-!
Elesol crumpled the analysis paper. Then, she looked around. Everyone was reading the same thing, even Ganesha, Lawaine, Delric, and Maho, all without a word.
"So, where are you going with this? You mean to save the professor?" asked Ellie.
Yeriel stared at her without saying a word.
"Nothing changes just because you brought these things. No, even if it does, we can't let that happen. We'd just be in the professor's way. You know it too, Yeriel."
"…"
To become a villain and die. Because of that, the chain of hatred would be broken. That was the result Deculein strove for.
"I know."
Yeriel said.
"I know that too. But… he doesn't have to die. He can pretend to be dead."
"How?"
Ellie logically questioned the situation, but Elesol stopped her. Yeriel clenched her teeth.
"Are you saying we should leave it like this? I can't accept that."
Yeriel took a step forward to the other side of the lighthouse-
"Intentions without action are just a nuisance."
Ellie stopped her.
"We also have orders from Her Majesty. Don't let anyone in…"
At that moment, the lighthouse suddenly shook, and magical energy bloomed from all directions.
"Move!"
Yeriel dashed forward at that moment. She produced a level of mana that even she didn't know she was capable of, all to step inside a place where time and space were frozen without anyone to stop her. Beyond that was her brother.
"Deculein—!"
* * *
…Drip, drip.
…Drip, drip.
Rain was falling across Annihilation and the continent. It was the water of life.
…Drip, drip.
…Drip, drip.
Quay felt it as he watched the rainfall. It was the purest magic that originated on this continent and the countless human auras obscured by it. Deculein had succeeded in taking a single step.
"…It's a little different from the human extinction you wished for."
With those words, Quay looked back at Kreto. He was free from Deculein's magic. To be precise, Quay was protecting him.
"Isn't this enough to be considered your defeat?"
Kreto asked sarcastically, but Quay calmly shook his head.
"No, it's no different. They can't return anyway."
"How can you be so sure?"
Quay smiled.
"Because even I am not capable of it."
…Drip, drip.
…Drip, drip.
A massive celestial body loomed overhead. The destruction that would condemn this continent arrived quietly with the rain.
"Nothing can live forever. Even Giants met extinction. Time takes precedence over anything else" said Kreto.
Quay chuckled.
"You want the broken continent to regenerate and the space created by Deculein to disappear naturally by simply waiting?"
Kreto grinned back.
"…Maybe. Magic has a lifespan, and your powers must also have a lifespan."
"Even if it takes ten thousand years, maybe more?"
As Kreto said, it must have a lifespan. After that determined time passed, that space would be dismantled, and those trapped inside might return. But, that time may be ten or even twenty thousand years.
"You said you prayed for ten thousand years?" asked Kreto.
"Yes, I did. Then those guys, too, in about ten thousand years…"
At that moment, Quay stopped with realization.
"…Yes."
Kreto smiled a little.
"Your power may not last forever, but there is something close to eternity."
At those words, Quay also stopped smiling.
"…Eternal Winter, you mean?"
"…"
Kreto shrugged.
"It seems like it. Epherene, and Deculein, didn't they try to defeat me from the start?" Quay wondered.
Deculein wasn't alone; there were more on his side besides Epherene.
"…Right."
Kreto nodded.
…Drip, drip.
…Drip, drip.
Quay looked up without saying a word.
…Drip, drip.
…Drip, drip.
In a daze, he turned around and slowly walked away. Kreto called out as he watched him go.
"Where are you headed?"
"…I'm going to see Sophien."
Quay replied. Kreto let out a small sigh.
"Is this the last battle?"
"…Yes. We have to compete now on whose faith is stronger."
Sophien would be waiting for him somewhere. Deculein and Epherene's plans were based on the belief that Sophien would beat Quay.
"As God, I have to break them."