Editor : Amethyst00



"Everyone ready?"

Artienne asked with a serious face as she looked toward Dweno's workshop in the distance.

"Our goal is to destroy the Legion Record as quickly as possible. That means we have to find the shortest route as soon as we enter the Legion's world."

At those words, Luke raised his hand.

"You have a question, Luke?"

"How do we find the Legion Record once we're inside the Legion's world?"

"If we enter the Hero's World through the center of the Hero's Dungeon, there will be a noticeable space distortion. The Legion's world shouldn't be much different."

Everyone nodded at Artienne's explanation.

"Carl, I'm entrusting you with command."

"Yes."

"Alright then, let's depart now—"

"What are you all doing here?"

"Oh, Master Dweno."

At the voice from behind, Artienne turned and politely nodded.

With Dweno's appearance, the expressions of Chelsea and Carl stiffened.

"The city's in danger. I need your help."

As Dweno wore an apologetic expression, Drianna stepped forward and spoke up.

"Yes! That's why we're trying to break the barrier to request support from the outside!"

"Oh? Is that so?"

Dweno nodded in admiration and gently patted Drianna's head.

"What do we do?" Carl asked quietly, and Chelsea bit her lip hard.

Dweno still had memories from when they previously attacked the Hero's World.

That's why he had deliberately hidden the entrance to the Legion's world.

To show the people of Ivaldi the future.

Chelsea and Carl hadn't shared this with the others.

It was tied to Leo's secret—something they couldn't speak of carelessly.

They had only told the party that there was an entrance to the Legion's world beneath Dweno's workshop.

But now, Dweno had appeared.

Dweno knew.

He knew that once they crossed into the Legion's world, time would stop for the people of Ivaldi.

'Master Dweno will try to stop us.'

Chelsea was sweating coldly.

Tap-!

Carl lightly tapped Chelsea's arm.

As Chelsea looked up at Carl, her face hardened.

Carl subtly motioned with his chin toward Dweno.

'…Right. That's the only way.'

Chelsea bit her lip again.

In that moment—

Whoosh-!

Chelsea cast a wind spell using her specialty: high-speed chanting.

A sudden gust of wind swept over Dweno.

"Chelsea! What are you doing—?!"

"Run to the workshop!"

Chelsea shouted urgently.

At the same time, she manipulated the wind to blow her party members toward the workshop.

Everyone flinched at the sudden action, but soon trusted Chelsea's wind and followed her lead.

It was an impulsive and abrupt move, but they chose to go along with her intent.

Because they trusted their comrade.

"What the hell! What was that!?"

Drianna flared up, and Carl explained the situation.

"Master Dweno still has memories from when we conquered the world before!"

"What?"

Drianna's eyes widened.

"He knows that if we destroy the Legion Record, the people of Ivaldi will disappear! That's why he deliberately hid the entrance even though he knew!"

At those words, the party members' eyes went wide.

Eliana stammered.

"T-Then that means…"

"Yes."

Carl wiped the sweat from his brow and looked back.

There, Dweno—flung far away by Chelsea's magic—was getting up.

"It means Master Dweno is going to stop us."

"…I'd rather fight the Giant King a thousand times than deal with this," Eliana said with a frown.

bl

In the early dawn sky, Dweno stood up after being flung by Chelsea's magic.

"Hmph."

He dusted himself off and looked toward Chelsea, who was running far ahead.

"Excellent high-speed chanting."

He had heard she was still young.

Yet she was already casting this level of magic in an instant.

'If she keeps growing, she might rival Luna in high-speed chanting someday. I look forward to her future.'

Thinking that, Dweno gave a bitter smile.

'The future…'

What he was doing might be putting their future in jeopardy.

'How foolish of me.'

But he couldn't help it.

The people of Ivaldi.

To Dweno, they were as precious as the great heroes.

As a child, he had fled his homeland to master the cursed golden flame.

And it was Ivaldi that had taken him in.

His people—whom he ultimately failed to protect.

'Now that I'm dead, I finally have the chance to resolve that regret.'

He didn't want much.

Just to show them the sun.

'I trust Kyle.'

A true hero incomparable to himself.

Kyle would defeat Giath.

Just as he had defeated Erebos without giving up.

Dweno bent his knees.

At that moment—

"He's coming!"

With Carl's shout, Dweno charged forward at an incredible speed.

Crackle—!

Duran stepped forward.

His golden eyes gleamed as he swung his sword with both hands.

Lightning blades pushed back the darkness.

Flash!

At the same time, Eliza summoned her Pegasus.

The golden lightning that had surged around was drawn into Eliza's Pegasus.

Just as Dweno was about to target the two—

Flash—!

Eliana suddenly appeared in front of him, shining with a blinding light.

Right after, Luke, Aina, and Haviden stabbed their swords at him from behind Eliana.

'Impressive.'

Dweno was amazed.

The first time they met, they couldn't even attack him properly.

But now, they were doing their best to stop him.

"Well done."

Dweno praised the hero candidates' determination.

But—

"Wha—?! You're not dodging?!"

Eliana was briefly shocked that Dweno showed no intention of dodging or blocking her attack.

Still, the spirit in her sword didn't falter.

Clangclangclangclang—!

Four swords struck Dweno's body.

And were deflected.

"Dodge? Why would I?"

Dweno tilted his head slightly and tapped below Eliana's chin with his fingertip.

Thud—!

"Gah?!"

Eliana collapsed backward.

Dweno calmly rushed toward Eliza and Duran's lightning.

Crackle!

Powerful lightning engulfed Dweno.

Yet he didn't slow down.

"What?!"

Everyone was horrified.

Dweno effortlessly bypassed the Arhi party and stood before the workshop.

"Hmph. That stings."

He massaged his shoulder and cracked his neck.

"That's a lie! A complete lie!"

"Eliana! Are you okay?"

"Huh? Huh?"

Eliana checked herself at Aina's question.

She wasn't hurt at all.

"I can't injure kids," Dweno said with a smile, arms crossed.

"Besides, your attacks aren't much of a threat."

"Grrr!"

Duran scowled in frustration.

Even if it was true, it still stung.

"So I suggest you turn back."

"What if we refuse?" Chelsea asked.

Dweno smiled.

"Then I'll incapacitate you all."

"You said you wouldn't hurt us."

"There are many ways to incapacitate someone without hurting them. For example—"

Dweno's gaze turned to Carl.

As Carl shuddered—

Whoosh—! Boom!

A fist flew at Carl's face.

Artienne appeared, swinging her fist just in time.

Dweno had launched a compressed air blast at Carl's head.

It wouldn't have killed or injured him, but it would've knocked him out if it landed.

"Whoaah! Professor! Thank you!"

At Carl's words, Artienne spoke.

"Everyone, fight Dweno like you're ready to die! He was known as the strongest shield before being called the Divine Blacksmith! Form up!"

Artienne clenched her fist and stepped forward.

Carl approached Drianna.

"Drianna! Get ready to fight."

"I… I still don't understand! Master Dweno would never ignore a global threat… So why? Why?"

Drianna couldn't steady her heart.

Carl said, looking at her, "Dweno is human. An incredibly noble man, yes… but not perfect."

"…!"

"Isn't it possible he has something as precious to him as the world?"

At Carl's words, Drianna bit her lip.

Then, with a resolute face, she took the lead.

"You'll never get past me. I advise you give up," Dweno said calmly.

Chelsea smiled.

"Unfortunately, our leader is someone who doesn't know the meaning of giving up."

"…He taught you well."

Dweno closed his eyes.

"Then I'll just have to make you give up."

bl

The Legion's advance continued relentlessly.

The siege had begun in earnest.

Ballistas fired constantly from the walls, striking down demons and monsters approaching.

Mages cast spells.

Ivaldi's warriors fought bravely.

'Why… Why isn't Dweno here?!'

Giath trembled as he looked at the scene.

'Don't tell me… he's not on this battlefield? Did he run away?'

Impossible.

Dweno was a warrior who never retreated.

Giath knew that better than anyone.

There's no way Dweno would run.

But no matter how he looked at it, it felt like Dweno wasn't here.

Then—

Rumble—!

A section of the wall collapsed.

The Legion focused its advance there.

Ivaldi's mages hurried to repair the wall.

'Yes! With a crisis like this, he can't hide any longer!'

Giath was sure Dweno was in hiding.

And that he'd be forced to appear now.

But…

Only Leo stood out on the battlefield.

Still no sign of Dweno.

Leo alone held off the charging Legion.

Eventually, the wall was barely restored.

At that moment—

"GRUAAAHHHH!"

Giath roared and began his charge.

As the Giant King moved, the ground quaked like an earthquake.

"Tch."

Leo clicked his tongue.

"What now?"

Aru asked with a flustered expression, and Leo answered calmly.

"He's a coward."

Overly cautious by nature.

"Well, his mistake made it easier for us… but that's over now."

Leo stepped forward.

"Sh-should I help?"

Aru asked.

Leo shook his head.

"Too soon for you."

"You can beat him, right? You're Kyle, after all!"

"Not sure."

Leo looked at his hand.

His divine power hadn't worked since entering the Legion's world.

Because the dungeon was Erebos's domain—a nemesis to divine energy.

"Aaagh! Then why do you look so calm?!"

As Aru clutched his head, Leo smiled.

"Because he'll come."

"What?"

"Dweno will come."

It was faith.

Faith in someone they had trusted with their lives for so many years.

"He definitely will."

Leaving those words behind, Leo charged at Giath.

"The Surviving Hero Kyle! Where's Dweno?!"

Giath roared, lifting his massive greatsword.

Leo gripped Posteritas and smirked.

"He's hiding.. to slit your throat."

"Where do you spew such lies?!"

The small sword filled with gray aura clashed with the mountain-sized greatsword filled with dark magic.

—-!

Nearby demons turned to dust.

Even distant ones exploded and died.

"The sound…?"

Despite the incredible scene before her, Aru heard nothing.

Startled, she realized her own voice sounded muffled.

Drip!

"Huh?"

Feeling moisture at her ear, she instinctively touched it.

It came away sticky.

Blood was flowing from her ear.

'What kind of insane battle is this?!'

Aru's eyes widened.

This was the fight between a Great Hero and a Legion commander.

"Ugh! When is Master Dweno coming?! Is it taking long to find his weapon?!"

Aru stamped her feet.

At that moment, Enniha, who was commanding the battlefield, clenched her fist.

"Rahdan."

"Yes, Lady Enniha!"

"Take over command for a bit."

"Huh? Where are you going…?"

"To punch that damn dwarf in the face and drag him here!"

Grinding her teeth, Enniha headed toward Dweno's workshop.