Editor : Amethyst00



A bright light illuminated the whole world.

As if the sun itself had risen.

Everyone on the battlefield turned their eyes toward the light.

At its center stood Leo.

The light pouring from the tip of Leo's sword engulfed Giath.

Struck directly by Leo's signature magic, Zero, Giath opened his eyes wide.

'My existence…!'

Giath's very existence was disappearing.

This was not simply a physically powerful spell.

It was, in the truest sense, a power that denied evil itself.

No amount of strong defense or overwhelming regeneration could help.

It was magic that erased existence itself.

"Gaaahhhhhhh!"

Giath pushed his dark magic to the limit.

He had to resist this power somehow.

As he flailed to fight it off—

"You won't live through this time."

Dweno jumped.

At that moment—

The hammer in Dweno's grasp swelled to the size of Giath's head.

"Hryaaaaah!"

Fwoooosh—

Golden flames blazed.

Just as the massive hammer was about to crush his face,

Giath screamed toward the sky.

"To the great Erebos! Eternal glory! In accordance with His will, we sha—"

Smack—!

Dweno's hammer cleanly obliterated Giath's head.

Fwoosh—!

Giath scattered to dust with the light.

[Dweno, The Divine Blacksmith, has survived.]

[The Giant King Giath has been defeated.]

Aru's eyes widened.

"Wow!"

She raised both hands and jumped on the spot.

Fwhoooooooosh!

The Giant King's legion that filled the battlefield began to vanish into dust.

However, the part of the Giant King's legion that had entered the present world did not disappear.

Even so, there weren't many left.

Turning their focus, the warriors of Ivaldi began a full-scale offensive to exterminate the remaining giants.

"We won! We won, Black Bunny!"

Aru beamed and turned her gaze to the remains of the fortress standing like a tower.

Leo, who had been swaying on top of the wall, lost his balance and fell.

"Uwaaah!"

Aru panicked and rushed to catch him, barely managing to do so with both arms.

Thud!

"Are you okay?!"

"Of course not. I'm out of mana."

Leo let out a deep sigh.

Dweno, who had delivered the final blow to Giath, also fell from the sky.

Aru tried to run to catch him, but Enniha, who had rushed in already, succeeded in safely catching him.

Seeing this, Aru let out a breath of relief and said excitedly, "Anyway, that was amazing! What magic was that?!"

"A new signature spell. It's unfinished, though."

It was still an incomplete spell.

Back when he was Kyle, he failed to deliver a decisive blow to Erebos, resulting only in a seal.

Never forgetting that moment, he had continued researching a spell to defeat Erebos—and only recently had he managed to realize it.

But there was still a long way to go.

Meanwhile, the warriors of Ivaldi succeeded in subjugating the remaining forces.

"Waaaaaahhhhhhhh!"

"We did it!"

The warriors of Ivaldi let out joyful cheers.

Watching them, Leo murmured, "We won."

"Yeah, we did. Black Rabbit."

"Now put me down."

"Huh? But you're out of mana. You should rest more. And honestly, being held like this, you're kinda cute."

Aru looked down at Leo with her blue eyes gleaming.

Her white tail swayed gently.

Leo, glaring up at the white cat teasing him, reached out and grabbed her gently swaying tail.

"Eek!"

"Don't mock your elders."

"I told you! The tail—!"

Aru screamed, her face flushed and barely wrested her tail from Leo's grasp.

At that moment, Dweno, supported by Enniha, burst into laughter as he approached.

"What a sight to behold."

"Look who's talking."

Supported by Aru, Leo barely managed to stand and looked up at the sky.

Dweno did the same.

Stars sparkled in the pre-dawn sky.

"Enniha."

"Yes?"

"There's not much time left."

"……"

Enniha gave a bittersweet smile.

"So let the festival begin."

Dweno smiled.

"As grand as possible."

"……Okay."

Enniha nodded and ran toward the warriors.

"As promised, let's share a drink."

"Yeah."

bl

"Raise a glass to victory!"

"It's a festival!"

News of the Giant King's defeat spread quickly through the city.

Upon hearing the news, the townspeople came out of the shelters with joyful faces.

They couldn't contain their happiness.

Though it was late at night, even children came out to the open square and began preparing for the festival.

At the center of it all, Leo and Dweno were drinking together.

"Leo-oppa!"

A bright voice called from afar.

"You won!"

She had seen the Hero Record message about the defeat of Giath.

Coincidentally, it was the exact moment when Arhi's party reached the central area and successfully recovered the Hero Record.

Having accomplished their objective, they halted its destruction and immediately returned.

"We won. But those are some nice shoes you've got."

"Oh, these?"

Chelsea lifted one foot.

Showing off the shoes adorned with wing decorations, she smiled brightly.

"A gift from Lord Dweno!"

She wasn't the only one.

Luke had a sword.

Haviden had a spear.

Aina had wrist guards.

Eliana had lightweight armor that enhanced mobility.

Eliza had earrings.

Carl had a bracelet, and Artienne wore a necklace.

It wasn't hard to guess who made them all.

"I made them during breaks. They're not perfect, but they're decent enough."

Even though they were items worthy of being called relics, Dweno spoke calmly.

"You sure found the time."

"Repairing weapons wasn't that difficult."

With his skills, it would have been easy for him to repair the requested weapons and still have time left.

"Leo."

Artienne approached and carefully handed something over.

A scorched fragment of the Hero Record.

There was still a faint ember on the end of it.

It was burning.

It meant this world had little time left.

No one knew when it would end.

As Leo silently accepted it—

"Shouldn't we raise a toast to victory?"

At Dweno's words, Arhi's party hesitated.

"Come on, everyone. Take a glass!"

No one could refuse a drink from a Great Hero.

Arhi's party took their seats and raised their glasses.

"Thank you! For fighting for us!"

"It was simply what had to be done."

Artienne replied solemnly.

Dweno stared at him.

"Is there something on my face…?"

"Nothing at all."

Smiling faintly, Dweno poured drinks for the other students as well.

The atmosphere grew warmer.

Dweno laughed heartily, pouring drinks for the young heroes-to-be.

Soon, the ones who had grown close gathered together and chatted excitedly.

"Lord Dweno!"

Drianna spoke seriously in front of him.

"I've learned so much again! Ever since that time, I've been striving to become a smith who inherits your legacy!"

"Impressive. I've got a gift for you too."

Dweno pulled out a small hammer.

It was the same weapon that had smashed Giath's head earlier.

"The hammer I poured all my strength into—Aeternus. It'll help you in battle and smithing alike."

"Ah! I can use this to make sculptures too!"

"Sculpt…?"

"Yes! I've been pursuing art too!"

Dweno nodded at her sparkling eyes.

"Come to think of it, I've been meaning to say something ever since I saw you again."

"What is it?"

Leo spoke.

"Stand up."

"Huh? Why?"

Carl tilted his head.

"Move."

Leaving only those words, Leo sipped his drink.

While the others were confused, Carl—having excellent danger instincts—bolted.

"I told you to give up on art! Why don't you ever listen?! Are you rebelling?! I'll smash your head in!"

"Eeeeeek!"

Dweno swung Aeternus furiously toward Drianna.

"Give up on art! I said give up! Don't you dare disgrace art!"

Everything nearby was destroyed by Dweno's rampage, shards flying everywhere.

The party screamed and scattered.

Leo calmly sipped his drink, dodging the debris with casual head tilts and body shifts.

After the commotion—

Dweno, pressing his temple, handed Aeternus to Drianna.

Drianna looked delighted.

While the others dispersed,

Only Leo, Dweno, and Enniha remained by the campfire.

Then—

"Um…"

Deet approached Leo.

Leo looked at him and spoke.

"You're just like your father."

"Huh?"

"Just as your father's weapon once saved my nameless life, the gear you made surely saved someone unknown on the battlefield."

That was the legacy of Ivaldi's craftsmen.

Even after Ivaldi's fall, their weapons flowed into Godthrone—

Helping in the long journey to save the world.

Even if neither the smith nor their creations were remembered in history,

They had fulfilled their duty in their own way.

Invisible lines had connected, ultimately leading to the world's salvation.

'As long as someone keeps moving forward, the will shall never perish.'

"Be proud."

At Leo's words, Deet nodded with a bright face.

"Yes!"

Leaving those firm words, Deet walked away.

"You talk a lot more now. You remind me of Lysinas."

"Do I?"

"Strange, you two aren't even married, yet you're so alike."

Dweno chuckled and took a drink.

Clicking his tongue, Leo also downed the rest of his drink.

He filled his cup from the barrel again.

He was already heavily drunk from drinking so much.

"We were married."

"What?"

"Me and Lysinas."

Pffft!

Dweno spat out his drink.

"What?!"

"That damn lizard conned me into marriage. I only found out recently."

"You… do you know how she felt about you?"

"I know that damn elf's feelings too."

"Incredible. Did you pretend not to know on purpose?"

"I realized after I reincarnated."

"Good. You're still the same idiot."

"You perverted old dwarf."

Leo grabbed Dweno's neck, but Dweno continued drinking unfazed.

Meanwhile—

"Ugh, I drank too much."

Carl, nearby, shook his head.

He was clearly tipsy.

"Hmph. How uncultured. Drinking past your limit."

Eliza smirked. Carl raised his glass and said, "This is the time to drink!"

"Indeed!"

Kania raised her glass beside him.

Clink! The two downed their drinks.

Eliza shook her head watching them.

Soon after, Carl lowered his head.

He had fallen asleep from the alcohol.

Kania stared at him for a while, then approached Eliza.

And then lifted her up slightly.

"…?"

"Hey!"

Kania pushed Eliza toward Carl's arms.

Eliza, unintentionally embraced by Carl, mouthed soundlessly.

"You two look good together."

"What the—!"

Eliza glared at Kania, who was giggling with a red face.

"You didn't pull away though?"

Scowling at her words, Eliza escaped from Carl's embrace.

"Huh? What's going on?"

Carl, waking up, looked around.

The festival continued.

And before long, dawn began to break.

"By the way, Enniha."

"Hm?"

Enniha, laughing with Dweno, tilted her head.

"You promised to be my model, right?"

"Yes, I did."

"Then strip."

"You crazy dwarf, what did you just say?!"

"If you're modeling, of course it has to be nude."

"Don't joke! Who said that?!"

"You taught me that, didn't you?"

"When did I ever?!"

Enniha elbowed Dweno's head.

But he didn't even flinch.

'A match made in heaven.'

Leo clicked his tongue.

Avoiding the nudity, Enniha sighed and asked, "What pose should I take?"

"Drawing a painting."

"A painting?"

Tilting her head, she brought out a canvas and stand with a serious expression.

Then, recalling something, she began to paint.

Dweno sat in front of a canvas too and began to paint her.

As he focused, Dweno put a pipe in his mouth.

It was none other than Enniha's pipe.

"Huh? Dweno? You don't smoke."

"In the future."

As Leo remembered, Dweno had always had that pipe, from their first meeting to the very end.

'It was Enniha's.'

Leo watched quietly as the painting was completed.

'There's not enough time.'

He realized—

There wouldn't be enough time to finish the painting.

He looked at the Hero Record fragment in his hand.

It burned brighter.

Only a sliver remained.

Leo spoke.

"Dweno."

"If you're going to say something stupid like using divine power to extend our time, I'll smack you right now."

Dweno, having read Aaron's memories through Brave, spoke firmly.

"Save that power."

"……"

Leo closed his eyes.

"And my art is beautiful the moment I begin. Completion is meaningless."

"…You're right."

"Isn't it beautiful?"

Indeed, the image of the elf painting on canvas was beautiful.

"It is."

"See? Comparing her to Luna is an insult."

"Maybe, but Luna has the prettier face, at least."

"You're a married man. Stop flirting."

"I was tricked into it. I'm just stating a fact."

"You have no taste."

Dweno clicked his tongue.

"Hey, what do you think?"

Enniha couldn't hold back and asked.

"Want to see it?"

Seeing Dweno's faint smile, she approached him.

"Wow."

Enniha's mouth fell open.

"T-This is me?"

"Yes."

"It's beautiful. But isn't it too idealized?"

"My aesthetic eye is sharper than anyone's. Enniha. You're this beautiful."

Dweno smiled gently.

"Thanks to the beauty you showed me, I could keep moving forward until the very end."

"……"

"Thank you, Enniha."

Fwoooosh—!

The Hero Record fragment fully burned.

As the black ash scattered and vanished, Leo clenched his fist.

[The people of Ivaldi have been saved.]

[Dweno's World: Epilogue – Battle of Ivaldi has been cleared.]

The Hero's World had been conquered.

A radiant light enveloped the world.

Everyone closed their eyes.

The Hero Dungeon disappeared.

This space, once between the Hero's World and reality, had now become the real world.

As Leo inhaled deeply with closed eyes—

"Ah."

Gasps of wonder rang out.

Arhi's party, including Leo, quickly opened their eyes.

The people of Ivaldi were looking east.

"…The sun."

Dawn had arrived.

Brilliant light bathed the Ivaldi people.

Some saw the sun for the first time.

Others had regained this sight after decades.

All looked upon the saved world with tears of joy.

Enniha, gazing at the sun, walked over and retrieved her canvas.

"Nice, right?"

She smiled brightly, showing her painting to Dweno.

Dweno took the painting and muttered, "Well done."

"Right?"

"But mine's better."

Enniha burst out laughing.

Then she said, "I'll go first."

Repeating the words she had once left with Dweno, Enniha vanished into light.

Not just her—

All the people of Ivaldi turned to light and disappeared.

Silently watching, Dweno handed his painting to Leo and opened his mouth.

"Thank y—"

He stopped.

His time had ended, but Leo's continued.

It was too early to say thank you.

Instead, he spoke

"Take care of it."

To the comrade who still had a path to walk—

The one who had always been the party's reliable support left a word of apology, gratitude, and encouragement.

Receiving the painting, Leo nodded.

"Leave it to me."

Dweno smiled and disappeared into light.

"……"

In the silence, Leo looked at the paintings.

'I want to preserve this.'

Dweno had hoped his art would be passed down.

Originally, his painting should have vanished.

But—

[Clear Reward: Painting]

Because of Leo's wish, the painting was granted as a reward.

Letting out a sigh of relief, Leo carefully placed Enniha's painting next to Dweno's.

As the dawn poured in, The paintings of Enniha and Dweno, both creating art, were displayed side by side.

Arhi's party gathered.

"Wow, beautiful."

"These paintings are incredible."

Hearing the admiration of his companions, Leo spoke.

"Of course."

Because—

"They were painted by the last artists of this era."